Nagpur Test, Day 1, Lunch
Thursday, February 21, 2002

The most disappointing aspect of this session was the pitch. Not often do you see, even in India, a pitch that is so flat and placid on the first morning. There was nothing in it for the seamers, no real bounce or movement off the pitch. That was the main reason for the first session not quite living upto our expectations. It was all pretty dull and quiet.

One of the heartening aspects for India was Zaheer Khan's bowling. After a long time, he was bowling the way he used to when he first came into the international fold. His rhythm was good, as was the pace at which he bowled. What was noticeable was the way the ball was thudding into the wicketkeeper's gloves.

Sanjay Bangar also bowled surprisingly well. He came in at a difficult time but I thought he set an example to the other Indian bowlers. With no help from the pitch or the conditions, he looked for some help in the air. He worked on the ball and he's got a beautiful release action. Whether it was the spinners or the fast bowlers, that had to be the order of the day, to get the ball to do something in the air.

He was desperately unlucky not to get Stuart Carlisle's wicket. I thought he was plumb but with the ball striking him on the toe and the bat in such close proximity, it was a tough decision for the umpire.

The Zimbabweans have played well within themselves. Another team might have scored more freely but they chose the safe and steady option. India would have liked a wicket or two more, but all in all, they won't be too unhappy.

I thought it was very unfortunate that Virender Sehwag was dropped from the team. The team management should have tried everything possible to keep him in the eleven. They could have sacrificed SS Das at the top of the order and asked Bangar to open the innings. If I were Sehwag, I would have been bitterly hurt and disappointed this morning.

Sanjay Manjrekar, stalwart of the Indian batting in the early 90s, was talking to Dileep Premachandran

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