White is the color of revenge - India - Australia 2013

A look at the cricketic melodrama that unfolded in the India Australia series 2013.

I'm deliberately skipping the "You did not do your homework" fiasco, as it has very little cricketing sense to talk about.

#Captaincy blooper - Opportunity presented, Opportunity lost 
Chepauk,1st test, Day 3, Indian 1st Innings:: 

Dhoni walks in with the match evenly poised. India are 196 runs behind Australia with six wickets in hand. Ideal situation for Clarke to dismiss Dhoni cheap and ensure his morale and hence Indian team morale stays checked. Remember, India were defeated in the last series against Englishmen. Dhoni decides to handle the situation his own way - all guns blazing with risky slog sweeps across and races to an eventful run a ball 25.Now comes the blooper from Mr.Clarke. Dhoni was clearly uncomfortable playing Lyon defensively at least till that point (25 balls) in his innings. He was going hard at the forward defense and at least thrice, the ball flew precariously to the right of Cowan at square short leg. Clarke could have opted to either move Cowan finer in his short-leg position or position an additional fielder at finer short-leg.  Instead, he decides to have a spread field. Precisely what Dhoni wants. Dhoni could now put aside the risky slog sweeps and resort to his more comfortable way of back foot nudges and big hits down the ground.

As history tells us now, Dhoni went on to play the most charismatic innings ever by an Indian Captain and romped India home with a masterly 224.Clarke report card read - Opportunity presented, Opportunity lost !

#Master('s) stroke
Chepauk,1st test, Day 5, Indian 2nd Innings::
Sachin walks into a packed stadium. The crowd is bizarre realising it could be the last they get to see of the master in whites at Chepauk. Sachin has very little pressure on him in terms of match situation.India needing a mere 14 to draw first blood in the series. What unfolded in the middle was something extraordinary even for his standards. He wanks the first ball he faces of Nathan Lyon over long-on. That's not it.He again thrashes the next ball deep into long-on fence. Sachin scorecard read 12(2) . Sachin is a complete professional to do to something like this as a freak show. What he did over the two balls was a well planned move. Sachin realised that Lyon could be the only potent spin weapon in Australian armory. And best way to nullify it - thrash him out of confidence. And that's what exactly Sachin did over the two balls at Chepauk.

If you are still unsure if the move worked, read this - Lyon was dropped from playing eleven for the Second test at Hyderabad

#Out stumped, Out-thought
Mohali,3rd test, Day 2, Australia 1st Innings::

After much of public debate and pressure, Clarke decides to promote himself up to No.3 in batting order for Mohali Test. It was a relatively sane match situation for him to come in with Australia at 139/1. He is first up up against Jadeja. His nemesis so far in the series, having dismissed him thrice in the last four innings. More importantly, he was dismissed bowled by Jadeja on all three occasions. Clarke is well prepared for the situation. As Jadeja releases the ball, Clarke jumps out dancing straight down the wicket anticipating an arm ball sliding in to him. Jadeja finally comes of age in whites - out thinks Clarke - throws one wide of Clarke's arc - Clarke is stranded down the middle as Dhoni whips off the bails.

R Jadeja - Have we finally got the all-rounder for Indian conditions ?

#I had my revenge - Lion('s) share
Kotla,4th test, Day 3, India 2nd Innings::

As was the case in Chepauk, Sachin walks into a jubilant Kotla crowd. History is on the verge of being made on multiple counts. On personal front, the stakes cannot be any higher for Little Master. It could perhaps be his final test innings in India. The match situation is a cake walk. India need 41 runs with 8 wickets in hand. Perfect set-piece situation to ride India to historic test victory and bid adieu on glory. But as they say, things happen to go wrong at the worst possible moment. And fittingly, the hero in the anti-climax is Mr.Lyon. Yes, the poor offie who the mumbaiker had thrashed of the park and squad in Chepauk. But now, Lyon is back in the squad and bowling with vengeance  Perhaps, he is all built up to deliver the killer blow to the master. Lyon around the wicket - and this is what Cricinfo commentary read on 25.3
25.3 89.0 kph, lbw! Tendulkar's fallen to Lyon for the second time in the game. The ball was fuller and Tendulkar came forward to turn the ball on the leg side. It hit him in front of middle after pitching just outside off and the umpire took his time before sending him on his way. Hawkeye

As like a true master, Sachin walks back to pavilion without a semblance of disregard. Form is temporary,class is permanent.