da pixbet： Both teams realise that in Twenty20 it’s not really worth naming one side favourites and the other underdogs
The Preview by Anand Vasu in Mumbai19-Oct-2007
Robin Uthappa: “You shouldn’t think of negatives. You want to think of the positives, go out there and give your best” © Getty Images
On the eve of the one-off Twenty20 match at the Brabourne Stadium – whichwas abuzz with 11th-hour activity – the Indian team was keen to reinforcethe fact that this was a different format of the game, one in which they,and not Australia, were world champions.”Whether they get even or not we’re still the world champions, aren’t we? It’s a very good feeling to go into this game as world champions,” Robin Uthappa said when someone suggested that the Australianswould be using this game to get back at the Indians for the semi-finaldefeat in South Africa. “The confidence is high, everyone’senjoying the game and the atmosphere in the dressing-room is fantastic.”The young guys are all happy to be back. They’vehad a good break so they’ve come back fresh. Again it’s a new kind ofexperience. Playing there in South Africa and playing here are twodifferent things altogether – the wickets and the conditions are reallydifferent. It’s a 20-over game and can change in a matter of fiveballs. It’s a fast game. Whoever plays well [on Saturday] will win.”That said, both teams realise that in this format of the game it’s notreally worth naming one side favourites and the other underdogs. This isthe format in which Australia were beaten by Zimbabwe, and both stressedon the need to enjoy the game. “It’s a completely different version of thegame so I don’t think the loss in the one-day series will have any bearing,” Uthappa said. “Everyone’s going out there to enjoy themselves.After a seven-match series this Twenty20 game comes like a picnic kind ofthing where you enjoy yourselves come what may.”So much has changed now in that the Indians are suggesting they’d take thegame a bit lightly, even if in jest, while the Australians concede theyrealise this version is here to stay and it’s important toplay as hard as you can. But this role reversal is understandable,given India’s success in the World Twenty20.And for Uthappa, the goodtimes have rolled on, as he’s played a couple of exciting andcritical knocks in different positions in the batting order in the50-over format. When asked if it was easy to play thisfloating role, Uthappa said: “It’s easy if you keep an open mind. Youshould not think: ‘I’m fit to play in one position or another.’ If you havean open mind anything is possible. If you want to do it for your teamyou’ll do it.” Both teams realise that in this format of the game it’s notreally worth naming one side favourites and the other underdogs. This isthe format in which Australia were beaten by Zimbabwe, and both stressedon the need to enjoy the game Uthappa drew praise from Ricky Ponting for the manner in which he batted,and insists this will only inspire him further. “Coming from the captainof the best one-day side in the world it’s inspiring and pushes me to workharder,” Uthappa said. “I’m working on my game and a few flaws that Ihave. I’m looking to up my game a bit and convert starts to biggerscores.”He said this was possible because he had a flexibleapproach to batting. “I’ve been able to adjust to situations whenever andwherever I’ve needed to change my game. I have the confidence to bataccording to the situation. I’ve done it successfully a couple of timesand feel very confident. I think I can up my game at will and if I want todrop down a couple of gears I can do that at will to. I’ve reached a placewhere I can change gears at my own time.”That said, even being in good form, Uthappa conceded that the Twenty20format meant that even a couple of mistakes could cost you dear. But hesaid the team was not approaching the game with that sort of a mindset.”If you’re going to think about making that one mistake then thatmistake’s going to happen. You shouldn’t think of negatives,” he said.”You want to think of the positives, go out there and give your best.Everyone in the team has been absolutely positive.”Once again then, India are without Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly andRahul Dravid, and the talk is all about high energy, intensity and a funatmosphere in the dressing-room. There’s extra room for celebration asVirender Sehwag – who missed practice – became a father for the firsttime. Mahendra Singh Dhoni also missed part of practice with a kneeniggle, but was set to play. The in-form Murali Kartik will take the place of the injured legspinner Piyush Chawla. Kartik had left for Delhi on Friday morning and was called back the same evening.Also likely to return in tomorrow’s match is Mathew Hayden. Before thefinal one-dayer, which Hayden missed, Ponting said that his player was “85to 90% fit”. By now he’s good to go, and all things being equal will play on Saturday. And Australia, one-day series wrapped up or not, will bekeen to end the tour with a bang.Teams
India (likely) 1 Virender Sehwag, 2 Gautam Gambhir , 3 Robin Uthappa, 4 Yuvraj Singh, 5 Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt, wk), 6 Rohit Sharma, 7 Irfan Pathan, 8 Murali Kartik, 9 Harbhajan Singh, 10 RP Singh, 11 Sreesanth.Australia (likely) 1 Matthew Hayden , 2 Adam Gilchrist (wk), 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Andrew Symonds , 5 Michael Clarke, 6 Brad Hodge, 7 James Hopes , 8 Brett Lee , 9 Mitchell Johnson , 10 Nathan Bracken, 11 Stuart Clark.