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ShareMumbai: So, is the Indo-Australian rivalry the most 'happening' as far as we are concerned? Don't Indo-Pak clashes excite us any more?
To put things in perspective, the rivalry between India and Australia has assumed significance because the two are more or else equal powers. "The quality of cricket produced when India play Australia is awesome," says former India left-arm spinner Venkatapathy Raju. He goes on to add that Australia have always been the more dominant side and hence, it has required India to be at their very best to beat the Aussies. "Beating Australia always gives you a lot of satisfaction. They don't give you an inch and you have to give it all you have," Raju says.
The former national selector adds that the Indo-Pak rivalry has lost some of its sheen. "We don't play Pakistan so often these days. Moreover, in the 1980s, Pakistan were more dominant. However, in the late 1990s and now this decade, India have had the upper hand. An Indo-Pak clash has that charm due to various reasons but the quality of cricket exhibited isn't as good as in an India-Australia match," he says.
So since when have India-Australia clashes become the toast of the masses? "That win in Kolkata (second Test, 2001) gave us the belief that we could beat the best. The rivalry actually took off from there. We came back from the brink of defeat and then won in Chennai too," Raju, who featured in that match, says. He adds that coach John Wright's contribution was immense.
Abhishek Varma, head, marketing and communications, Neo Sports Broadcast, can only agree. "We don't play Pakistan so often these days. And the Indian cricket fan is more knowledgeable now. He knows he wants quality cricket and with Australia playing, you get to see lots of it." Varma goes to say that the upcoming series will only have a positive response and that will do ODIs a world of good.
Kolkata Knight Riders CEO Joy Bhattacharya feels otherwise. "Just because we aren't playing Pakistan as often as we used to, it doesn't mean the rivalry is extinct. Indo-Pak clashes have their own charm. No doubt, India-Australia battles produce great cricket but it's unfair to say Indo-Pak rivalry is not exciting any more. Every rivalry goes through phases. Now, for instance, India-Australia clashes are more interesting," says Bhattacharya, who was associated with a broadcast major earlier.
So, is it just a passing phase or will Indo-Pak rivalry reach great heights again? Or will Australia take Pakistan's place? The upcoming ODI series should throw a lot of light on this debate.
