South Africa vs India 2013: Lots at stake for India in a mini-series

India’s youngsters will face their sternest test so far in South Africa

A pompous celebration of a legendary career followed by an emotional send-off consumed the attention of Indian cricket’s discourse over the last couple of months.

It was eventful, it was memorable, but what will follow this is an exciting phase featuring unpredictable possibilities! Despite the upcoming series being reduced to a fast food snack rather than a full meal, the billing is high enough to invoke context and curiosity.

The anticipation is palpable, the adverts are popping up gradually, and recent form is balancing a skewed contest between an inexperienced young unit and a steady, settled outfit with strong credentials in home conditions.

What will be a greater miss for the Indian team (especially the Test series) this occasion – a Dravid as the SOS opener and a wilful pressure absorbent? Or a Tendulkar to lead the batting and be the focus of the blame when the tour results are torrid? Or a Laxman to whirl that magic wand to script improbable batting efforts in unacquainted environments?

Probably none of the three is a deeper void than the other in the overall frame, but the current challenge is to develop the habit of touring abroad in their absence! The add-on to that challenge is history and the need to revise the content. Additionally the burden to live up to reputation and rankings could affect the thinking in a subtle manner.

Virat Kohli‘s purple patch may not have taken off, but for the third Test at Perth during India’s tour in 2011-12. Likewise for many others the limitation of a short tour could be a supplementary hurdle.

They say away tours demonstrate the distinction between boys and men, and this particular phase could very well define the core of India’s outfit for the next 5-7 years or so. India is slated to have 4 tough away tours over the next 15 months, culminating with the World Cup.

From another perspective, it presents the prospect for exuberance and form meeting opportunity. The thing that works in this process is that the team isn’t expected to win in an outright manner. In conjuncture, the lack of experience in majority of the squad will allow players to perform without any baggage.

India’s share in the series previews has gained greater weight courtesy the number of in-form batsmen in the playing XI. India’s ODI profile has swelled in recent times and with a settled team it should be expected to do well.

The likes of Dhawan, Rohit and Virat should propel ODI form into the Test format and show symptoms of leading a batting unit in uneasy situations. Discounting form, the three appear to be most comfortable against the short ball in the line-up and confident to exhibit their skills without prejudice.

Among the suspects – Murali Vijay will be aware that the microscope will have a close focus on his knocks. Even though Pujara has got off to a decent Test career, it will receive a stamp of approval only with away performances. Many have hailed his watertight technique and his hunger for bigger knocks, the upcoming tour will be a judicious examination of both the facets.

Though Dhoni’s Test career doesn’t boast of enviable statistics, being the most experienced batsman in the team, he will have to elaborate his role in the side.

Notwithstanding his illustrious fitness crusade, you get a feeling that Zaheer has been drafted into the squad more to enhance the experience factor in the squad. The news about him being asked to mentor bowlers during the ODI series underlines this feeling.

Somebody like Ishant would probably be relieved to get the burden of leading the attack off him. Playing away from home in pace bowling-friendly conditions could be a blessing in disguise for his bewildered form. Umesh and Shami too would feed and enjoy on supportive tracks.

Collectively, they would be aware that for India to repeat its victorious exploits in the recent past, it would be imperative for the fast bowling to click consistently. Peculiarly India has picked 3 spinners in the squad but you don’t see India fielding 2 spinners in a particular Test.

India’s strength is in its batting and often the series results are driven by the manner in which plays out. A score of 40-3 is distinctly dissimilar when the contest is out of your comfort zone, like the way England just found out recently. An adverse tour can lead to jaded confidences and dropping off the selectors’ wishlist.

On the other hand, some may replicate likes of Dravid and Ganguly to make a name for themselves when the space for posters in the drawing rooms in vacant! India’s famed batch of the 90s and 2000s started slowly phasing out in 2008 (with the retirements of Ganguly and Kumble) and has concluded with Tendulkar’s exit.

During this tenure, the baton has subtly been passed to able hands; and like natural routine the expectation is to carry the legacy forward. 2015 is less than 15 months away and each ODI series against a top side would be a logical exercise in the pursuit of defending the crown.

Overlooking the quantum of sample size and the series bottom-lines, the performances over the next couple of months will tell us a few untested things about this new breed of Indian cricket.