An emerging sense of camaraderie

By Vijay Lokapally

BULAWAYO, JUNE 28. `Care for each other,' is the new slogan in the Indian team. Not because the Indians won a match against a depleted Zimbabwean side but the manner in which each member gave the others the due credit.

It has taken time but the winds of change have swept the Indian cricket team's dressing room. The young character of the side is seen as the binding factor for the players to believe in a collective performance to achieve the desired results.

Team dinners on the eve of the match have brought about a togetherness, which was missing for some time. Topics vary from cricket to weather to films and music but what strikes most is the fact that the effort to come together is genuine. Even a senior member of the side like Javagal Srinath looks forward to such occasions where he can impart ideas to the younger lot and make his contributions to the team meetings.

The team meetings have become meaningful. The effort to analyse and improve comes from every quarter and the criticism is very transparent. It helps a youngster to know what the seniors feel about his attitude and potential.

Apart from coach John Wright carrying out his job to perfection, there are members in the team, who have taken upon themselves the task to guide the others. Sachin Tendulkar monitors the progress of Harbhajan Singh, ensuring the young off- spinner does not lose his focus. V.V.S. Laxman takes interest in constantly interacting with Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra. As the youngsters concede, it helps enormously.

The players are keen to share their joys and sorrow. There was growing concern in the Indian ranks at the repeated failures of skipper Sourav Ganguly. And when he got the runs the celebrations were spontaneous.

The captain prompts his players to give their best and is prepared to back them to the hilt. This kind of approach goes a long way in making the new-comers confident. For instance, Dinesh Mongia can never forget the time the team management spared for him in preparing him for the match on Wednesday.

Wright and Rahul Dravid made the Punjab lad feel comfortable, talking to him in details. Mongia was made to realise his responsibility and the fact that he need not worry about failures. ``You've to back a youngster and he can give his best only if he knows that he has the support of the team management. Our job is to make him feel comfortable and also boost his confidence if he feels low,'' said Ganguly, who goes out of the way to mention Nehra's performance.

When Mongia walked out to bat he knew at the back of his mind that worries of failure were low on his priority. He did not set the cricket world afire with his display but did make an impression on the team management.

In Mongia's case, the team management is very impressed with his technique and temperament in particular. He can be groomed into an opener for the simple reason that he is essentially a grafter and believes in building the innings and the Punjab youngster has been sounded too.

Mongia acknowledged the team management's effort to guide him. ``They told me to relax and play my natural game without worrying about failure,'' he said. The same view was shared by Tamil Nadu left-hander Hemang Badani, who was also backed fully by Wright. The coach took responsibility for thrusting the opener's job on Badani and bailed him out of the first-innings failure in the second Test.

Ajit Agarkar, going through a tough time in Tests and now beginning to make his presence felt, was also encouraged when he was struck with failures. Wright has been on the job and makes no secret of his liking for the Mumbai cricketer. ``He's a quality cricketer and I've faith in him,'' the coach says of Agarkar, who is striving to attain his potential and be recognised as an all- rounder at this level.

Dravid is the most committed member in this side when it comes to helping out anyone seeking his counsel. ``I think it's my duty to help the newcomers especially. As a senior member of the side, I look at myself as a contributor on and off the field. And there's no greater joy than guiding a young player. This is how I learnt when I came into the side,'' said Dravid.

The Indian vice-captain also makes an effort to protect the newcomers. ``We must be careful when we criticise them. They're young and believe me, very keen to learn. That's what I like about this team. It is very keen to improve and very keen to learn. We are in the process of building a side and need to back the young talent.''

Dravid is a man who takes his mates' cricket as seriously as his own. In playing the match-winning innings at the Queen's Sports Club, the Karnataka batsman gave just a glimpse of his ability to play pure cricketing shots and yet make the difference in a limited overs cricket. There was not a false shot in his brilliant innings. ``It was time I played a match-winning knock for the team,'' he said of his effort. And true to his character, he mentioned it was an effort inspired by the youngsters around him.

The `care for each other', policy will show results in time but it is a pleasant development for a team, which has players with diverse interests. It is fun to listen to Tendulkar and Srinath bombard Harbhajan with their Punjabi and the likes of Agarkar and Sameer Dighe sending the rest into crashing with their Marathi- laced Hindi.

Thanks to the efforts of Dravid, the team took time off from cricket after the match on Wednesday to visit a private game park. An overnight stay followed by a game drive was the programme.

``It's good to have such outings,'' remarked Wright. ``I'm glad the team is learning to enjoy,'' said Sunil Gavaskar, who has always supported such ventures.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Sport
Previous : Kramnik cashes in on Anand's mistake
Next     : Lillee shortlists 12 trainees