Team India's big chance

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's team did not cash in on the several opportunities to take fresh guard during the four-Test series in Australia which ended up in the worst possible way -- a 0-4 whitewash at the Adelaide Oval last Saturday.

In Sydney today, they get another chance -- with a different team consisting younger players -- who are quicker on their feet and probably have a greater enthusiasm level.u00a0The Twenty20 affair will see an Australian side challenged by the visitors because India are far more experienced. However, Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men had more experience in the Test series too, but they didn't land up on the victory podium.

Australia are not known to relish the shortest format of the game, their fitness and alacrity on the field notwithstanding. It is believed that they don't give too much importance to this format too and that may be the reason why their best players are not in this squad. The hosts have a rookie leader in George Bailey, who has been made captain without any international cricket experience -- an unprecedented move by their selectors in limited overs cricket.

Beleaguered captain Dhoni should be licking his fingers in anticipation. Here's a chance to get into winning mode and India just cannot afford to miss the trick because the triangular 50-50 tournament involving Sri Lanka too starts soon.

The fact that they are the world champions must count for something.u00a0Victory in these two Twenty20 games (Sydney today and Melbourne on Friday) won't exactly put the critics to shame. That will not even be the case if India end up winning the triangular series, a tournament which they won in the Australian summer of 2007-08. But it would be a redemption of sorts, a semi-revival which will put a smile on the faces of cricket lovers.u00a0

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