Dravid's moment of truth

Indian cricket fans went to lunch on Sunday afternoon with a keen sense of anticipation , expecting some drum-beats, accompanying cacophony and satisfied burps post a hearty meal. After struggling at 58 for 4, Kumar Sangakarra and his stubborn Sri Lankan partners had held fort amidst a half-hearted siege by the Indian bowlers, and ended up with a creditable if not an awe-inspiring total of 258 runs. Still, given the friendly disposition of the placid wicket and the formidable line-up of Indian batsmen that total seemed more like a teaser of a challenge. Especially as the wicked and wily leggie called Mutthiah Murlitharan and a cool as cucumber salad Chaminda Vaas were busy in Colombo resting their weary bodies. But India had it’s own little tricks in the bag which it has perfected to a refined art-form over the years. It’s patented.

Thus, in another characteristic somersault which would even threaten a professional gymnast, the Indians nose-dived into brown dust and committed the classic hara-kiri all over again. And we thought that the highest suicide rate was in South Korea.

Despite one of the best partnerships in recent times between the elegant Sourav Ganguly (62) and a brilliant Sachin Tendulkar (56), an obdurate sticker in D Karthick and an unnaturally restrained Ms Dhoni (48), India fell in a big thud, five runs shy of what should have been a rudimentary win. At least from 235 for 5, for heaven’s sake, one expected some horse-sense to prevail. Alas!

Bottomline; this talented team is clearly struggling in terms of self-belief. It is also perceptibly woefully short on mental toughness. It has abundant skills, terrific experience and outstanding world-class players, but the missing ingredient is that collective dash, a kinetic fusion, an insatiable appetite for victory. Once upon a time under Sourav Ganguly’s leadership, India had that unquenchable thirst for a fight-back. Remember, Natwest? Right now, India resembles a ship that has weathered several storms and has still not figured out the deceptive guile of the wild torrents. Poseidon adventure, anyone?

The need of the hour is an extraordinary leader, who can take risks, build a cohesive unit , and inspire his boys to commander the ship , navigating it to enemy territory , through choppy waters and fireballs. And emerging victorious. In a contest, the other alternative is to be vanquished.

For Rahul Dravid, this is the litmus test. After two years of cosy honeymooning with coach Greg Chappell’s lunatic experimentations, his moment of truth has arrived. No more tall talk. No more promises. No more gospels or gossip. No more Mohammed Kaif.

Kaif finds himself the sacrificial lamb thanks to the Chappell lab as he misses a crucial batting slot to a determined Dinesh Karthick, who is likely to spend a lot of time surfing the blue waters of the gorgeous Caribbean beaches.

Anyway, Dravid has got the team he wanted. Now he needs to marshal his resources. Dream big. And dig deep. Not to unearth skeletons of the past but the relics leading to the future. Therein could lie India’s cricket destiny on April 28th 2007.

The countdown begins.