By Gaurang
May 7 2007

Team India has just landed in Bangladesh after a short stint in Kolkata where they had a rigorous and old-fashioned nets. No De Bono, no colored hats, no chair exercise... just fielding, batting and bowling skills were honed.
There is also a refreshing lack of spicy media gossip which was encouraged by Chappell, often through "exclusive" interviews to selected media outlets, where he pontificated on lots of issues in a generally bombastic and self-serving manner.

Now instead the media’s attempts to extract spicy tidbits have been blunted by the media-savvy Shastri with a dead bat certainty, reminiscent of his attitude when opening the innings for India. He either lets dangerous questions sail by harmlessly, or knocks them down with a straight and dead bat reply that leaves no chance for the journalist to put his own spin on it.

This has resulted in a much more relaxed and happy dressing room. Even the arm-twisting by the BCCI to force the players into a corner on contracts and endorsements, etc., has not seen the unity and equanimity of the team effected. The presence and active participation of both Tendulkar and Ganguly, who have been “rested” from the ODIs, at the pre-tour camp is a healthy sign, and even the odd situation of Dravid not having a named deputy -- a first for an overseas tour -- has not caused too much controversy. With Shastri in charge, one feels that whoever is picked as vice-captain, if Dravid for some reason cannot play, will not be thrown in the deep end, and will have the backing of one of the shrewdest minds in cricket to back him up.

All of the signs are positive, and the Indian team still smarting from its shameful exit from the World Cup seems all geared up to let the Bangladeshi team know that what happened in Port of Spain was a one-off and not a true picture of the strengths and standing of the two teams.

I for one would not be surprised if India prevail 3-0 in the ODIs and 2-0 in the Test matches, weather permitting. The Indians have a lot to prove, both to themselves and to their fans, and despite Dravid’s protestations that the team is not looking for “revenge”, the feeling clearly is that this is payback time.

The only jarring note in this otherwise much-anticipated series, is the fact that it is being played in May, a time of the year when the heat and humidity in Bangladesh reaches its peak. One can anticipate several fines for slow over rates from the sanctimonious ICC Match Referees. Though after the way they have covered themselves with ignominy in the recently concluded World Cup, they may be a bit wary of ruffling more subcontinental feathers.

Either way, I expect India to inflict a serious mugging on their less fancied neighbors, albeit in slow motion.