Sometimes, winning isn't about often-used expressions like 'maximising your potential', or 'raising the bar' and the like. It could be as simple (or as difficult) a matter of deciding to conquer one's internal demons and succeeding.
To me, both of last night's matches were about wanting to conquer the nasty beasties inside. The first match had me secretly hoping that KKR would pull off a win.
As it turned out, the team that wanted to win, won. KKR (I hope I am wrong) is a team that is rapidly disintegrating. Till those fielding mishaps under pressure, they had the upper hand. One gets the feeling that the mood in the KKR camp is that nothing can help them now. And more importantly, they don't seem to be owning the problem. A classic symptom of a team being controlled too rigidly.
Wriddiman Saha finally got a game, and made his presence felt. More importantly, he brought a sense of urgency. In my book, selecting a playing XI isn't just about a player's past record or his talent. It's got something to do with spotting the hunger and the potential in him.
And in the KKR ranks, they have one person who has done this sort of player-spotting for India in the recent past. The question is, is Ganguly a KKR think-tank member with a casting vote? Or is he there just as a mark of respect to his past exploits?
McCullum is a brilliant cricketer. But he seems desperately lost as a captain.On the other side, the RC team seem to have come into this match sensing a win. And they were not going to let go. Shreevats Goswami finally got a look in. And cashed in, setting the platform for the RC chase. KP? I for one am happy that he part of the England squad. Captaincy demands responsibility. And watching KP, one gets the feeling that he is playing here just to keep himself amused.
In the end, Virat Kohli and Mark Boucher, those two 'worker ants' got RC through. Is it any coincidence that RC are playing more as a team after Boucher has come in? IMHO, he should start leading them now.
As for KKR, I am more or less convinced that the only option left is for Buchanan to do a very 'Indian culture' thing - fall at Ganguly's feet and beg him to lead. It is a small physical feat of going from vertical to horizontal, but it might take KKR's performance from horizontal to vertical. For what Ganguly brings by way of emotion and motivation to the job of captaincy is worth its weight in gold.
The second match almost forced me to switch off the TV at the end of the Kings XI innings. I kept it on only for Tendulkar. But this was a different Kings XI that played last night. I, in my ignorance have always marked them down as a 'flow' team. Last night, we all saw what a bunch of streetfighters they are. Sangakkara played one of the grittiest innings that IPL has seen, scrounging his way to a respectable total for his team.
Mumbai, one supposes, must have been shattered when Tendulkar got out. The fragility of their middle order was exposed, though Duminy played a beautifully-paced innings and almost got them home.
Personally, I was happy to see Kings XI play the way they did. But Tendulkar did not fire, and that always brings a glum expression to the face.
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