The quaint dwellings capture the beauty of this hill town. Narrow lanes, steep roads, easy paced life; the tranquillity of the place is such a contrast to the tempestuous ambience of the West Indies dressing room.
A match won, and a match lost from a winning position can be attributed to the part-of-the-game syndrome that impacts sportsmen who play non-stop, literally day and night, like most modern cricketers. The payment related squabble between the West Indian players and their administration back home has cast an unpleasant shadow over the on-going series against India.
The Hudhud (cyclone) swept off the third ODI at Visakhapatnam and the teams, after spending two days in Delhi, arrived here on Thursday for what now becomes the third match of the series.
The setting at the venue is serene with the weather adding value to the contest. Curator Sunil Chauhan promises a “fair” pitch that has a simple note attached to its preparation. Bat well and bowl well is the mantra in conditions deemed sporting by the organisers.
brilliant infrastructure The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) takes immense pride in having created a brilliant infrastructure that has earned praise from every cricketer who has experienced the joy of playing here.
The backdrop of the snow-peaked Dhauladhar ranges is a sight to behold. Can the cricket match this wonderful theme? Much would depend on how the West Indies responds to an invigorated Indian team that has its task cut out.
The men and the boys are under scrutiny with all the five National selectors assembling to update their notes for the eventual responsibility of picking the best for the World Cup early next year.
We have a rare situation of a furious, but healthy competition among the left-arm spinners of the country. There is Ravindra Jadeja, the captain’s favourite, and two bright youngsters in Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav.
Axar has made waves on the domestic circuit but Yadav is yet to figure in a first-class match for Uttar Pradesh. These are interesting times for these youngsters of similar art but distinct style. One is conventional and the other innovative.
Former National selector Surendra Bhave talked highly of Axar but it is Yadav who has caught the attention of the current committee. He is considered a special talent, unique to be specific, for his ability to bowl the chinaman.
Yadav’s skill can baffle batsmen and it is this quality that places him in the higher echelons of the bowlers in the country. Yadav’s accuracy and consistency have impressed the captain (M.S. Dhoni) and the director (Ravi Shastri).
Dhoni, driven by personal experience, always backs the unknown and unsung. He may, however, be tempted to rest Mohammad Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the Test series.
Clean action In the case of Axar the compelling aspect is his clean action. He had been on the radar of the national selectors and the opportunity appears ideal to push the young Gujarat spinner to the next stage.
He has shown rapid improvement and set up a stiff contest for Jadeja. It is seen as a healthy sign that the team has three contenders for a spot that had looked so bare not long ago. There is a line of argument in the team management that two left-arm spinners can be accommodated in the playing eleven.
Haryana leg-spinner Amit Mishra is a prime candidate with his large hearted stuff but the presence of Karn Sharma of Railways adds to the variety.
Karn is very much in the reckoning even though he does not figure in the team for the ongoing series but Mishra, who shone at the Ferozeshah Kotla the other night, is the leader. His propensity to strike and not contain is a big hit with the team management.
It is the opener’s slot that continues to cause concern to the captain. The recall of Gautam Gambhir for the tour of England was a desperate move but the Delhi left-hander spoilt his case with a clumsy showing.
Shikhar Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane are the experimental pair with Delhi’s Unmukt Chand, a gifted strokeplayer, in the race along with Jiwanjot Singh of Punjab and K.L. Rahul of Karnataka.
The process of identifying the World Cup squad has begun and this match is another step in that direction.
The teams (from): India: M.S. Dhoni (c & wk), Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Axar Patel, Murali Vijay and Kuldeep Yadav.
West Indies: Dwayne Bravo (c), Darren Bravo, Jason Holder, Leon Johnson, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Smith, Jerome Taylor and Sulieman Benn.
Match officials: Ian Gould and Vineet Kulkarni; Third umpire: Anil Chawdhury; Fourth umpire: Nitin Menon; Match Referee: Jeff Crowe.
Play starts at 2.30 p.m.
