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A Feature Posted by Syed Ahsan Ali on May 09, 2007

When Dravid said it categorically that Bangladesh Tour is not a revenge series, don’t know why I want to believe him. Regardless of the opponent, regardless of the scare they gave Indian cricket in the very first round of the World Cup, it is a series that India will play to prove so many other things than just that they are a better team. Win in the series will be more of redemption for Indian cricket than a revenge one. Dravid expressed his attitude that he wants to stay at the fence and look from there how things unfold in next few days. He does not want to give it unnecessary hype when there are umpteenth issues at his hands which need to be rectified. Apart from form, performance and skill, one rudimentary part played in the success of any team is how cohesive they are as a side and it is still unsure after happenings of last few months.

One major recovery they want to behold is the camaraderie between the players that can make them win any match, any series against any opponent. First and foremost thing is to put up a show of a happy family. They have to behave like they are one for all and all for one. It will be interesting to observe what Shastri, Dravid and happenings of last one and half month have done to make them one happy unit.

No matter what if they will get a good fight in the series and come out of that phase smiling like a happy bunch of players that would be much bigger victory of Indian cricket than getting same accusations, grievances and game of scapegoats at the end of this series as well. We want to see Sachin, Sourav, Yuvraj and Sehwag standing right behind Dravid than against him. We want to see no matter who makes a century, who gets the wicket or who takes a catch a celebration which will be there for Indian cricket for the victory which they would earn for their country.

Dravid has to open himself more now. He has to reinvent himself after blames that he was aloof and introvert more of a times. Dravid has to reach players and find what is going on in their heads. How they want to be treated, when they want to be cheered and when they want to be heard. This is the thing which Dravid needs to do more often now. It will be a battle within battle after coming out of the ground for him. He has been the heartthrob of Indian batting from years now and now he has to adopt the role of heartthrob in the dressing room as well where players would love to talk to him about their on and off the ground problems.

We are all aware of his potential as a batting genius. He can pile mountain of runs after runs, but now he has to listen, talk and console his players as well to become a legend of another type. Indian cricket definitely needs a victory but not for the sake of revenge but for the sake of reigniting the spirit of a team and as a prove that they are still a team.

More of Syed Ahsan Ali : Not for the sake of revenge! :: It wasn't fair, Gilly! :: Crucial flops of the CWC 2007! :: Looking Ahead : For the sake of romanticism :: Saluting the mighty trio :: Two darlings of Indian cricket! :: Shane Warne : The complete bowler of our time :: The Ashes is done and dusted! :: Five most feared batsmen of One Day game :: Brilliant.Charismatic.Lara

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