Side lines

India reinvent themselves.

NADEEM A. KHAN

Mumbai, November 6.

South Africa received a particularly sadistic piece of Indian thrashing today. After relenting three times in a row, India nuked them in a final that became increasingly one sided as the night progressed.

There was skepticism on all sides before the game. Expecting the contest to be a broad farce, a wag was tempted to paint the tri-color black, blue, and purple. Cronje hinted, unwisely perhaps, that his chances were "50-50". Although bookies are made of sterner stuff there was nothing for them in India's record against South Africa, which stood at an unassuming 0-6 since 1993. Not even their critically acclaimed buffing of Australia raised hopes. Consequently, the Indians were cast aside as if they were worthless stock. There is little doubt that since then Lexus catalogs have replaced Smith and Wessons in the hands of those who had wagered stoutly on the underdog.

When last seen, Robert Woolmer was poised to denounce his team and the format, not necessarily in that order, that made it possible for a team to lead a bristly existence and yet acquire the title. His 'best of three finals' was wishful thinking, although the Australians are known to manage the WSC in that way. Bob's argument drew a prickly observation from the Indian Board, "A win is a win is a win." By official estimates that is one "win" too many.

No one should be drawing long-range inferences from this result. The triumph still does not make India an outstanding side. At least, not any more than skewering the West Indies in the '83 World Cup made them World Champions. Mumbai was an ideal example of reverses tightening up the product. The Indians won because they were technically and mentally more robust than their rivals. They batted with fortitude, although Manjrekar reeked of mothballs, and the bowling was not sugar coated. They slipped along the park as if sprayed with Pam, and caught everything that came in their general direction. Despite this expensive setback, the Springboks have emerged as the superior side overall. Their success rate for the year stands at 91% versus India's 30%.

Nevertheless, once home, Woolmer should consider placing his ensemble in the hands of a capable therapist. They have proven to be desperately short of spine in important games. An impression grows that these players have a bit of England in them.

Perhaps there is a lesson in their failures. Clinical perfection and techno-primping, seemingly, are no match for good old fashioned ebullience. Best personified by Sachin Tendulkar, enthusiasm was the one common denominator to India's enterprise. Like Azharuddin, Sachin prefers to learn lessons from misfortunes and his team has been unstinting in its efforts to provide him with the necessary misfortunes. Azhar was a natural judge of capability. He knew who could be pushed and how far. When all else, including his batting, failed, his proficiency with prayer kept India afloat. Sachin, on the other hand, is the most skillful player in his side and he finds it difficult to believe that not every one is similarly sharp. But, he has learnt to slow down and levitate the rest to his lofty standards. By doing so, he has overcome, if temporarily, the difficult part of captaincy. Often, great players who are skippers are inclined to be captious: Vivian Richards had a tendency to be overly critical and it caused his team to be divided.

Now that he understands and relates to all members, regardless of their standing, Tendulkar will be more successful. And when the side hits another fusty low, his bomb- proof batting will cloister them. Throughout the competition, especially today, Tendulkar was the glue that held the objective firmly in place. He was also the filler that plugged the embarrassing holes. For his accomplishments with the bat alone, Sachin deserved to win the Player of the Series award (it went to the deadpan Allan Donald).

There is no closure to this saga. The South Africans have retired to the drawing board in a foreboding manner. They will play three Tests in India, perhaps with mixed results, the first of which begins on the twentieth in Ahmedabad. Unless the teams outgrow each other by the end of this tour, they will do it again in January--in South Africa. Then in February, the West Indies will impatiently await Sachin's lads.

India's exploits in South Africa and in the Carribean require no introduction.