No place in the team for complacency

India’s win yesterday at Guwahati in the first of the five match ODI series against Pakistan will surely boost the team’s spirits. After all, a win under one’s belt is always nice; even better, it puts the opposition under that much more pressure. And this is even more crucial in a high-voltage series like India vs Pakistan, where national passions are at stake, and not just a trophy.

Yesterday, our bowlers- especially the spinners- bowled very well, and virtually choked the Pakistani batsmen especially during the middle overs. But the team would do well to remember Pakistan’s generosity on the field in the form of dropped catches. Had Gambhir and Ganguly been caught earlier in the innings, the story may not have had as happy a ending for India.

I also think the media overdoes things. Last night’s news was full of phrases like “India smashes Pakistan”. Personally, I think the reporting could have been more sober. After all, there are 4 more games to go and while not for a moment am I writing off the Indians, I am definitely saying that there is no room for complacency. One bad day can ruin all the euphoria that has been built around yesterday’s victory.

Like all you cricket fans, I too look forward to a closely-contested series (and a series win for India, I might add!).