Rajendra Prasad Mohapatra
Post News Network
Cuttack, Oct 5 : The historic Barabati Fort which was once the capital of several valiant dynasties including Gangas and Gajapatis today gears itself up to protect the state’s pride against an invasion of a different kind!
Well, India’s pride has been dented in the first T20 game, with South Africa winning the match by seven wickets and the hosts would certainly like to regain it by winning the tie at the Barabati Stadium here Monday.
With the World T20 looming large, India’s form in the shortest form of the game has been anything, but noteworthy. India have lost the last four of their five games in the shortest format and may certainly like to regain form and keep the series alive for the final match at Kolkata.
South Africa, on the other hand, need 20 more overs to wrap up the series and that will make them a determined lot in the field when they take on India in the second match of the T20 series.
Dew played a triumphant role in India’s fall in Dharmasala, but then it will not play as important a role at the Barabati. But rain may do so and the Indians would need to have a look at that aspect when they select the side for Monday’s game.
South Africa are not expected to make any changes in the playing XI as they certainly would not like to tinker with a winning combination. However, one change is on the cards for the hosts with either Harbhajan Singh or Amit Mishra expected to replace one of the pacers. However, even though, both Bhajji and Mishra had an extended session in the nets Sunday, no one can surely predict the change as India skipper MS Dhoni is one who plays cards close to his chest.
The pitch looks good and a par score should be something in the vicinity of 200. However, equations are bound to change in case of the sky opening up again. Then permutations and combinations are bound to go for a toss into the Mahanadi. Overall it would be a nice idea to put the opposition in after winning the toss as chasing is more feasible in the shortest format of the game.
The legendary writer Sir Neville Cardus had said it ‘‘cricket can make a donkey out of you’’. One however, can still predict an Indian win, as the hosts play their best when their backs are against the wall. Anything less and the series will belong to the South Africans.