Let's run with Team India

By John Cheeran
MK Gandhi had his enlightenment in South Africa.
South Africans and Indians have shared ideas when it came to fixing cricket matches in the past. They are no strangers at all when it comes to cricket.
So is there anything that separates now Graeme Smith’s South Africa from Rahul Dravid’s India?
South Africa have come to India with an impressive one-day record which Dravid can only envy at the moment. They are on a roll. South Africans have extended their unbeaten streak in one-dayers to 19 matches. Only Australians have done better.
That bit of statistics should give some sense of proportion for Indian fans rooting more wins from Dravid.
When Sri Lanka came to India for the Videocon Cup series, they were the No.2 ranked one-day team in the world. A 4-0 thumping of New Zealand has taken South Africans to No.2 slot.
So South Africans must be worthy rivals for India to carry out their experiments.
India, curiously, remain at the No.7 spot.
Can the No.7 pummel No.2 as in the Sri Lankan encounter?
India enjoy the home advantage. As for the confidence level, both team are on a high.
South Africans have come prepared and come with three spinners ready to take the battle into Indian camp.
But if Graeme Smith believes he can tie down Indian batsmen with his spin trio -- Justin Ontong, Robin Peterson and uncapped Johan Botha -- that would prove to be a folly. Four out of the five matches are day-nighters and bowling in the second phase of the game would present spinners with gripping problems.
Well, India have in their ranks only Harbhajan Singh and Murali Karthik.
South Africa would do well to play to their strength, which is pace.
In one sense, this series hold much less meaning for Dravid and Chappell, compared to the Sri Lankan affair.
Whatever the reverses in this five-match series, which are bound to come, India cannot afford to change the direction of its path to future now.
Let us walk with Team India.
Or better, run, as they say in cricket.