Rohit Sharma and David Warner (Image Source: Debasis Sen)
S.Kannan in Hangzhou
Who would have thought Indian cricket would rock, first in Hangzhou, China, at the Asian Games and then hope for an encore in Chennai. The blockbuster between India and Australia in the southern metropolis at the ICC World cup is important for many reasons.
For those who have written traditional previews, SWOT analysis, plus more into the technical side, much has changed. For sheer volume of cricket these two nations play with each other, it has reached a saturation stage. That, of course, is market driven.
In the good old days of Test cricket in white flannels, a series between India and Australia was a rarity. Now it happens so often. Yet, what is common in terms of a T20 international, an ODI or Test series is very different from the lung opener at the World Cup tonight.
The Aussies had a tradition of sledging, getting under your skin. So many of them did it, with Ricky Ponting the leader. Ponting was a shrewd captain and a batsman, err, batter who was not most beautiful to look at but effective in scoring runs.
Today’s Aussie side is relatively mellow. However, if you are going to confuse mellowness as a nicety, that would be crazy. Just a few months ago, at the ICC World Test Championship final, the Aussies exposed India and won the trophy.
None other than Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, who is under the scanner every single minute, knows it best. Statistics in cricket are important, yet if you are going to base your analysis or predictions on just stats, it would be wrong.
Look at the way things have changed. There is going to be intense rivalry at the Chepauk, this will be a no holds barred contest, Yet, if you look at the current generation of Aussie cricketers, they are not rude or ugly in behavior as was the case during Monkeygate in 2008.
The Aussies love India as a nation more than Indians love Australia. This is the big change. Call it the IPL (Indian Premier League) effect or affect, the number of Aussies who have fallen in love with India is huge. Of course, love for a country will not mean you will play meek cricket. The men from Down Under are born fighters, the never give up attitude is intact.
Sports cannot be viewed in isolation as just a contest in the field of play. If there is bonding and love, so many of these Aussies have used every opportunity to tell India they love BHARAT. Late Shane Warne had shown his love for Rajasthan Royals through the IPL. Sadly, Warnie passed away so tragically.
Dean Jones, famous for his knock of 210 at Chepauk in the 1986 series also loved India. Again, he died in India with his boots on in Mumbai three years ago as a TV commentator. The Aussie love for India has been pure and from the heart. If Indians cried over the death of Warnie and Dean Jones, it was because of their feelings for India. How they embraced the culture, wanted to sample the famous Indian curry as much as the festivals is a sign of changing times.
Today, if you go through the social media posts of David Warner, from Independence Day to Raksha Bandhan, he will be posting on X (Twitter). Warner is as much an Indian as an Indian holding an Indian passport because of his IPL heroics. He has been with the major IPL teams and a super hit with the fans. The same Warner, who seemed down and out will now be relied upon to deliver for the Aussies. He knows the conditions in the sub-continent best.
The heat and humidity of Chenani are factors which will be harsh. Yet, given the way the IPL has been played in summer, none complains today. If anything, the Aussies are better prepared for it. So, does one assume, India and the Aussies are friends?
Don’t get fooled. If recent results of the Aussies in ODIs have been poor, it is an aberration. The love the big stage, they are bull fighters not in the ring but in the middle of the 22 yards. If there is a big change, it is in the mindset for both teams, India and Australia.
There is hype and there is an expectation which has been created Rohit Sharma can win the World Cup trophy this time. It is good to have belief in the batters plus the right combination in bowling. The inclusion of R.Ashwin, Chennai’s own boy-turned-man champion spinner is welcome. How many matches he plays will be watched with interest, for the cerebral Tam Bram has the ability to produce six different deliveries in a legitimate over.
A word about Chennai’s cricket fans. Tickets for this match sold like hot cakes. When it was Madras and Pongal time in January, this city hosted Test matches. Renamed as Chennai, this bustling cricket venue so close to the middle of the city has embraced cricket even more passionately.
These crazy fans love cricket and adore Chennai Super Kings as well, the defending champions of the IPL. Tonight, Chennai, specifically, will cheer good cricket, be it from the Indians or the Aussies. No predictions on the result please.
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S.Kannan in Hangzhou Who would have thought Indian cricket would rock, first in Hangzhou, China, at the Asian Games and then hope for an encore in Chennai. The blockbuster between…
The post Present day Aussie cricketers love India so much more appeared first on RevSportz | Latest Sports News.
