A narrow one-run win over the proteas in the first match of the series notwithstanding, the Indian team's morale would be high going into the second match today given their record at the Captain Roop Singh Stadium here.
The hosts have won seven out of the nine ODI's that they have played here including one against South Africa, when they trounced the visitors by 38 runs in a 45 over-match on November 12, 1991.
Despite the then skipper and now batting coach Kepler Wessels' valiant knock of 71, India tamed the proteas following half centuries by Kris Srikkanth (68), Navjot Singh Sidhu (61) and Sanjay Manjrekar (52). Batting maestro Sachin
Tendulkar could contribute only four runs in that match.
A cursory look will reveal that the batting friendly pitch of Roop Singh Stadium in the past had always favoured India.
Besides South Africa, India have beaten formidable opponents like Australia, England (twice), Pakistan, New Zealand, and the West Indies at this venue.
However, the team would also do well to remember that this was the same venue where a little known Kenyan team had humbled the Mohammad Azharuddin led squad on May 26, 1996.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
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