It seemed like an irony when the weather chose to put on its best morose face on a day when India’s bleakest, waning star decided to shine brighter in the midst of blinding slights.
Before the start of the second Test in Mohali, all talk was focussed on Rahul Dravid, the only man who is yet to fire in the Indian line up and has been a rather silent witness to the proceedings in recent times. Mahendra Singh Dhoni was perhaps thinking on the lines of changing only the batting position of arguably the best number three batsman in the world. But even that was not a necessity given that India has had the rest of the line up in great nick and changing the team balance for one man was perhaps something that Dhoni was not willing to think much with.
As it turned out, Dravid’s quiet confidence in himself showed in the form of a gritty innings rather than an emphatic knock. It was an innings that required adjustments, tremendous patience, self assurance to stick it out and finally see some of those old shot resurface. For that Dravid needs to be commended.
He did not shy away from his responsibility as the Wall. Though it has seemed to have developed a few cracks, the patch up work was not entirely shoddy.
It helped of course to have Gautam Gambhir at the end in the superfluous form, of perhaps his entire career. The England team were on a high after a rejuvenated Stuart Broad, for whom Steve Harmison made way, got England the early breakthrough of the man who has changed the course of events in Chennai.
Seeing the back of Virender Sehwag must have been a tremendous relief for England and skipper Kevin Pietersen who cannot afford to rest despite his fractured rib. But England would not have another reason to celebrate on one of the most gloomy days on the tour. The scoring may have been slow ending the day at 179 for one, but it had the decided effect on England.
Gambhir and Dravid put up a dogged partnership of 173 for the second wicket that left England with drooping shoulders when play ended prematurely due to bad light. Leave aside other variables tomorrow, the fact that England seemed to have consoled themselves that this is a flat track and that India will continue to pile on the runs may leave them with a few jolts when it is their turn to bat.
