India Put Best Foot Forward sans Kumble

The decision seemed obvious to everyone except the skipper himself. The trick to fool anyone did not work. What did work though was India's opening pair that undid all theories that batting first would be nothing short of harakiri.

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Anil Kumble left the decision to the late hour. But everyone else in cricketing circles were well aware he would be a non starter. His shoulder may have prevented him from taking the nets. But his defensive batting with words was on display in the three days. It didn't fool Ricky Ponting. It did not fool the media or the fans. Kumble's decision therefore not to play the Mohali Test came as surprise to none.

It gave Mahendra Singh Dhoni the opportunity though to lead India again in a Test match after doing so against South Africa in Kanpur on another day when Kumble's shoulder refused to see his way.

With rain and wet weather conditions, it was considered that pace bowlers would have a greater role to play as also the first morning's play. However, with India sticking to their four bowler - two seamers, two spinners - attack, it made sense to bat first in order to exploit the turn on the last two days.

Amit Mishra was promptly inducted in. Australia's change was also predictable in that Stuart Clark was already unlikely to play the Test in any case giving Peter Siddle his first international Test.

But Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir got India off to a better start than anticipated given the probable nature and conditions. Their seventy run opening stand was outstanding from India's perspective because it thwarted any early breakthrough that Australia would have been hoping for given the Indian line up.

Their stroke play was majestic, their command over the bowlers almost making them look insipid. The odd bouncer or two got through. But the Indian openers proved too strong to succumb to the early blows.

Sehwag did eventually depart for thirty-five, when he looked good for a lot more. Mitchell Johnson provided Australia the vital breakthrough but India were well placed at 104 for the loss of that one wicket alone with Gambhir riding fine on a half century and Rahul Dravid giving him company on eleven.