Cricket - The Chameleon (Part 1)

India's victory in the World Twenty20 is richly ironic. When the International Cricket Council decided 15 months ago to hold this inaugural tournament the Indians were hostile to the idea.

So hostile that the ICC specifically agreed the tournament with the proviso that the Indians might not take part.

The ICC was nervous about going ahead without the potential economic juggernaut that is modern Indian cricket. In the end the Indians relented and the companies that are either based in India, or see India as a big market, were, in the end, prominent in South Africa.

Even this participation seemed very reluctant. Of the one-day team that lost to England, three senior players - Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Saurav Ganguly - did not go to South Africa and the captaincy was entrusted to the leadership of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who had never skippered India before. Sree Santh - who had been dropped from the one-day team against England - was included, but India's lead bowler Zaheer Khan did not go.

The team also consisted of players like Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh and Irfan Pathan, who had not featured in Indian cricket for sometime. The team felt like an A-side, partly players trying to break in and old timers trying to make a comeback.

This may explain why Dhoni was allowed to set his own standard - enjoy yourself, play without fear - and why the team responded so well.Rarely have I seen an Indian team play with such zest, or look so athletic. MORE ...