 "Rising Down Under")
A couple of decades ago, India playing Australia Down Under used to be a cruel mismatch. The hosts would often wallop the visitors with fast bowling that was nasty and unpleasant in equal measure. If it wasn't the bowling, then the Aussie batsmen would make batting look ludicrously easy on the same strip that the Indians had so embarrassingly struggled on. An India-Australia fixture away from home, almost as a matter of routine, went only one way. Thankfully, for Indian fans, that is no longer the case.
When India play Australia in the first of five ODIs at the Waca in Perth on Tuesday - surprisingly India's first bilateral series in the country - no matter what the result, a fascinating contest will be on show. India would be keen to bury the dreaded ghost of a painful World Cup semi-final loss last year, while Australia would want to assert their supremacy in a clash that seldom ceases to captivate.
Despite a thumping Test series victory over South Africa at home last month, India's one-day form continues to be patchy. Ever since their exit from the World Cup last year, instances of both the Indian bowling and batting coming good in the same game have been extremely rare. Against Australia, sporadic flashes of brilliance will not be enough; Mahendra Singh Dhoni would be craving for cohesiveness that has been long missing.
Former Indian pace bowler Javagal Srinath says that the series presents a great opportunity for the Indians. "Playing Australia on their home patch is always a tough task. But I see this as a good opportunity," he says. The Aussies come into this series with a new-look squad. Injuries, retirements and Cricket Australia's rotation policy mean that the hosts will have at their disposal only a handful of players who so emphatically lifted the World Cup last year. Michael Clarke, Mitchell Johnson and Brad Haddin have all walked into sunset, Mitchell Starc is out with injury, while skipper Steven Smith and pacer Josh Hazlewood are both doubtful.
Anshuman Gaekwad, former Indian coach, feels that in spite of a weakened Australian side, the challenge for the Indian team remains immense. "Australia is a still a very good team. You have to be at your best to beat them, which means that everything has to click," explains Gaekwad.
Despite the absence of the two Mitchells, the uncapped Scott Boland and Joel Paris are two fiery young pacers who can work up some speed. Kane Richardson, who has been recalled to the limited-overs side, remains more than a handful. His performances in the Big Bash are ample proof of that. Dhoni, however, must be sweating more over his bowlers than the opposition's.
Against South Africa, the Indian attack was brutally exposed, with the Proteas tearing into the pedestrian pace of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohit Sharma. With both not included in the squad, Dhoni, this time, will turn to the pace and guile of Mohammed Shami. The 25-year-old, who was out injured for almost the whole of last year, is a welcome addition. Shami can pick up wickets up front as well as restrict batsmen at the death. The key, however, will be Ravichandran Ashwin. It will be interesting to see how the off-spinner, who so successfully tormented the Proteas, bowls in conditions that generally provide little assistance to spinners.
Ashwin's renaissance in the last year has been nothing short of extraordinary. Former Indian spinner Erapalli Prasanna attributes his huge success to keeping things simple. "Earlier, he was trying too many things, too many varieties. Now, he is getting his line and length spot on," says Prasanna.
Ashwin, in the past, has leaked far too many runs in overseas conditions. It remains to be seen if the 28-year-old can replicate his Test match form in Australia. Much to his joy, David Warner, so often his nemesis, may not be available for the entire series.
Experts feel that it may all come down to India's batting again. "Big scores always help. Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane have to come good," says Gaekwad.
Both Dhawan and Kohli rather surprisingly finds themselves horribly out of form in the limited-overs format. Dhawan managed just 126 runs in the five matches against South Africa. Kohli, too, has stuttered after getting off to solid starts. Rohit Sharma has also struggled to put bat to ball in the last couple of months.
But in Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja, the Indian team has two men at the absolute peak of their powers. Rahane was prolific with the bat against South Africa and it is a matter of time before the bashful Mumbaikar takes over from Dhoni as the Indian middle-order's mainstay. Jadeja comes into this series after picking up a bagful of wickets against the Proteas. It would be fatuous to expect similar heroics against Australia; but then confidence can do amazing things.
Eight years ago, Dhoni captained India to its first series win on Australian soil. That mystical night in Brisbane still lingers in the memory. Now, in what is likely to be his last tour Down Under, the Indian skipper would be hoping for a repeat performance. An entrancing battle is upon us.
When India play Australia in the first of five ODIs at the Waca in Perth on Tuesday - surprisingly India's first bilateral series in the country - no matter what the result, a fascinating contest will be on show. India would be keen to bury the dreaded ghost of a painful World Cup semi-final loss last year, while Australia would want to assert their supremacy in a clash that seldom ceases to captivate.
Despite a thumping Test series victory over South Africa at home last month, India's one-day form continues to be patchy. Ever since their exit from the World Cup last year, instances of both the Indian bowling and batting coming good in the same game have been extremely rare. Against Australia, sporadic flashes of brilliance will not be enough; Mahendra Singh Dhoni would be craving for cohesiveness that has been long missing.
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Anshuman Gaekwad, former Indian coach, feels that in spite of a weakened Australian side, the challenge for the Indian team remains immense. "Australia is a still a very good team. You have to be at your best to beat them, which means that everything has to click," explains Gaekwad.
Despite the absence of the two Mitchells, the uncapped Scott Boland and Joel Paris are two fiery young pacers who can work up some speed. Kane Richardson, who has been recalled to the limited-overs side, remains more than a handful. His performances in the Big Bash are ample proof of that. Dhoni, however, must be sweating more over his bowlers than the opposition's.
Against South Africa, the Indian attack was brutally exposed, with the Proteas tearing into the pedestrian pace of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohit Sharma. With both not included in the squad, Dhoni, this time, will turn to the pace and guile of Mohammed Shami. The 25-year-old, who was out injured for almost the whole of last year, is a welcome addition. Shami can pick up wickets up front as well as restrict batsmen at the death. The key, however, will be Ravichandran Ashwin. It will be interesting to see how the off-spinner, who so successfully tormented the Proteas, bowls in conditions that generally provide little assistance to spinners.
Ashwin's renaissance in the last year has been nothing short of extraordinary. Former Indian spinner Erapalli Prasanna attributes his huge success to keeping things simple. "Earlier, he was trying too many things, too many varieties. Now, he is getting his line and length spot on," says Prasanna.
Ashwin, in the past, has leaked far too many runs in overseas conditions. It remains to be seen if the 28-year-old can replicate his Test match form in Australia. Much to his joy, David Warner, so often his nemesis, may not be available for the entire series.
Experts feel that it may all come down to India's batting again. "Big scores always help. Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane have to come good," says Gaekwad.
Both Dhawan and Kohli rather surprisingly finds themselves horribly out of form in the limited-overs format. Dhawan managed just 126 runs in the five matches against South Africa. Kohli, too, has stuttered after getting off to solid starts. Rohit Sharma has also struggled to put bat to ball in the last couple of months.
But in Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja, the Indian team has two men at the absolute peak of their powers. Rahane was prolific with the bat against South Africa and it is a matter of time before the bashful Mumbaikar takes over from Dhoni as the Indian middle-order's mainstay. Jadeja comes into this series after picking up a bagful of wickets against the Proteas. It would be fatuous to expect similar heroics against Australia; but then confidence can do amazing things.
Eight years ago, Dhoni captained India to its first series win on Australian soil. That mystical night in Brisbane still lingers in the memory. Now, in what is likely to be his last tour Down Under, the Indian skipper would be hoping for a repeat performance. An entrancing battle is upon us.