Indian tigers should chase the Kangaroos to the sand before defeating them

Kangaroos run very fast and they hop long distances on hard grass land with bushes. Their hind legs are very strong to jump around. Australian cricketers are exactly like the Kangaroos with powerful long legs which help them jump around the field to stop boundaries and grab catches.

One Australian fielder can cover ten feet on both sides on his body. They are like walls in the field. In order to beat the Australian fielding one or two Indian batsmen have to take risk by lifting the ball over their heads and hands for boundaries or sixes. Indian batsmen have to take advantage of the inner circle.

There is need for one or two dare devils who can sacrifice their wickets to make Aussies fast bowlers go out of steam. Once two quick fifties are fired, India will control the game and reach a comfortable total. Hopefully Suresh Raina will make a jai ho again.

Australian batsmen play quality fast bowling very well. The Indian pace trio may not get much success against Australia. Once again Dhoni has to read the character of the Kangaroos before taking any move. Kangaroos are powerless when they enter into sandy area. Team India has to create a virtual sandy pitch in the semifinal. How to create a sandy pitch out of hard pitch? Dhoni has to groom second change slow bowlers with doosras and teesras in their armor.

Teesra means slow and low delivery to make the Kangaroos feel they are playing on sandy pitch. Once they are drawn into make believe slow track they will be clueless to hit the ball. Once the slow and low moving deliveries find the gap between bat and pad or carry to the fielders in the deep, the Aussies’ nerve will crack.

India desperately misses Tendulkar’s slow off spin mixed with leg spins and googlies. But Dhoni has already started experimenting with his slow bowler Rohit Sharma who had taken one wicket against Bangladesh. Raina has to shape up for an over or two. Many times Sri Lanka’s slow bowler Jay Surya had tormented Australians. Aswini will keep stinging the kangaroos with his carom ball. Jadeja has to tighten his length with a bit of flight. The right approach is to puncture the Kangaroo when they are up in the air. One or two stump out and a running catch in the deep mid-on or deep midwicket will upset the Kangaroos who play with their reflexes most of the time.

Both the camps are studying each other’s strength and weaknesses. Undoubtedly Australia will focus on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Can Dhoni take a bit of risk by sending Raina as opener on this comparatively slow track? It may shield Rohit and Kohli who can blast when the ball gets older. Let us hope Rohit and Sikhar Dhawan make merry of the first ten overs. If team India survives the first ten overs without casualty they could go for a big total easily.

Dhoni has sharpened his helicopter shots as he has not used his helicopter bhroom in the tournament. He has to use it against Australia. Indian tigers have already learnt to hunt in foreign land with consecutive wins. Now they have to hunt for the Kangaroos with their eyes and claws wide open. Nearly 125 crore Indians are waiting to see Dhoni’s men taking on the arch rival Australia with all their strength and cricketing skill.

The men in blue have to remember what Lord Krishna told to Arjun. Kirshna said “My dear you have to perform your Khetriya Dharma and should not worry about the result.” The 26 th March Semifinal will be a do or die battle for the finish.

By Sudhansu R Das