Old habits die hard. This adage rings very true when applied to the Indian cricket team.
A team that looked invincible only last week showed such inconsistency this week that people are forced to believe that this bunch is as vulnerable as any other team.
But it's nothing new. Similar things have happened in the past and there is no guarantee that they will not happen again. The very pattern of winning one Test and losing the next has something to do with the complacency factor.
The Indians were in the right frame of mind after the victory in the One-Day International series. They looked confident of beating Pakistan in the Test matches too. But once they conquered Pakistan in Multan, I am afraid, the self-belief vanished.
An overseas victory means so much to the players that they somehow get overwhelmed by the occasion and become complacent. Such self-satisfaction surely plays a negative role when preparing for the next game. When the team loses, it becomes determined to set the score right in the next outing. As a player, I have experienced it myself. But somehow, disaster always strikes the Indians after a big win.
Keeping in mind the earlier incidents, I did anticipate a little dip in the Indian performance this time. The defeats in Zimbabwe and the West Indies and the loss in the Melbourne Test were ample evidence for me to believe that the rhythm would be hampered after the comprehensive win in Multan.
How does a team overcome the complacency factor after a big win? Should they avoid celebrating the victory or underplay it until they win the series? The team will have to sit and decide its course of action in the future.
Rahul Dravid may be blamed in some quarters for his decision to bat first. Frankly, the team batted worse in the second innings than it did in the first at Lahore. To me, winning the toss and electing to bat was certainly a positive move. More than the bowlers bowling well for the Pakistan team, it was the Indian batsmen who fished at too many deliveries outside the off stump and caused their own downfall. Umar Gul was the only bowler who hit the right line, while Shoaib and Sami were still searching for line and length.
The wicket appeared to be a good track when Irfan Pathan and Yuvraj Singh were batting. A batting side that has scored 600 and more runs in two consecutive Tests can only fail because of complacency.
Ajit Agarkar does not appear to be match-fit. I fail to understand why players, that too injured ones, get into a Test eleven without playing a practice game. I can well understand a player making himself available out of sheer anxiety to make the side, but the team management must have proper tools to measure his match fitness. I guess the victory in Multan overshadowed the selection process.
The Indian bowlers, especially Pathan and Balaji, did well despite their limited experience. On such wickets, a bowler may appear to be bowling well, but there is always something that will prevent them from taking wickets. There is a thin line between the wicket-taking length and the one that makes it appear that the bowlers are bowling well, but gets them no reward. I am sure Balaji and Pathan will learn these tricks of the trade soon enough. Had the great Kapil Dev accompanied the team as bowling coach, he would have helped sort these subtle issues out for the youngsters.
Doubting the Indian batsmen's form would be foolish. But questioning their level of preparation will not be unfair.
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