Moment of truth for India

Yes, we can. Mahendra Singh Dhoni may not be saying those very words that Barack Obama used so well to galvanise a nation, but the India skipper seems to be possessing as much conviction, belief and confidence about the team’s wherewithal to do it. South Africa? Bring them on!

“Pressure is not new to us. So we’re prepared for this,” Dhoni declared on the eve of the first Test. That preparation is not for the pressure — which Graeme Smith claimed is on India — but for the much-talked about bounce that the South Africa bowlers are supposed to unleash on his men.

Dhoni the fighter rather than Dhoni the skipper showed up at the media briefing on Wednesday. Attitude? He is showing it in abundance.

Dhoni knows that never before were the stakes so high for him and his team in a Test series. And he is preparing mentally for this. A rank to defend, a reputation to protect, a myth — that India can’t win abroad — to shatter, many an expectation to rise to and above all a myriad critics to silence.

If he walks the talk, he can achieve what skippers like Mohammad Azharuddin, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid failed to do — win a series in South Africa. Yes, greatness beckons him.

But the series is not only about Dhoni’s guts, glory and leadership skills. It is also about a few other illustrious statesmen of the team who have as much at stake as their skipper.

Virender Sehwag needs to prove that he is a terror to bowlers even in Dale Steyn’s den, VVS Laxman has to show that he can lead a fight back even in alien conditions and Rahul Dravid should establish that the age has not tampered with his otherwise impeccable technique.

And what about Sachin Tendulkar? The Little Master can do well to prove a point or two about his cussedness. What for a glorious moment like a 50th Test century if not for the cause of a win. It is a moment of truth for Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni and the whole team.

Thursday will herald the moment of truth for a couple of youngsters in the side. One of the two rookies — Umesh Yadav and Jaidev Unadkat — can get to exhibit their wares.

With Zaheer Khan ruled out for the Test, an opportunity awaits for one of the two. What lies ahead for India is no rocket science to understand. Smith himself gave a fair indication that his bowlers will be targeting the Indian batsmen’s chins rather than their stumps.

“South Africa is one of the toughest places to bat. We haven’t requested to play on green, seaming wickets as everybody seems to be making out. But we like to play under conditions that we know, those with pace and bounce and that is something that we are hoping for,” the Proteas’ skipper said.

It is not just the grass on the wicket and the bounce off it that will test the Indians. The weather too has not been the most clement over here which means the Indians will have to deal with some movement off the air too. But then, Dhoni has said the Indian team is prepared for everything — bounce, seam and swing.