Pakistan and West Indies certainly did as they bowed out, giving a young Indian team due credit for adjusting to the English weather well in a short span of time and topping the table.
"We weren't able to handle the deteriorating conditions in the last match, and this is a three-game series," Pak coach Dav Whatmore said after the loss to India. "I mean, it's not easy. If you're having a bilateral series, you have the chance to get back into it, different teams and different grounds, wickets changing, conditions changing overhead. There's time to adjust. That's the way it goes," he added.
Cold weather, heavy wind and frequent showers have dominated the tournament so far. India -- like Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the West Indies, who all come from tropical conditions and aren't used to such weather -- were all sailing in the same boat. On that front, the contribution from a young Indian bunch has to be acknowledged.
Meerut-born Uttar Pradesh player Bhuvneshwar Kumar -- the pick of the bowlers against Pakistan — Nagpur-born Vidarbha bowler Umesh Yadav, Rajkot-born Saurashtra all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and Chennai-born Tamil Nadu spinner R Ashwin form the crux of India's attack here.
They have all come from far-off regions of a vastly unconnected country like India and have played most of their cricket on dusty, dry and flat wickets usually regarded a bane for bowlers in batsman-friendly conditions. A little more than three years ago, the BCCI had also banned Indian cricketers from playing county cricket in England, which has meant that these players -- making their debut only recently -- haven't and maybe will not enjoy the privileges like a certain Zaheer Khan did, packing his bags for Worcestershire in 2006 when he wished for a county stint.
The same goes for batsmen too, where unlike Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman opting for Northamptonshire and Lancashire to regain touch, the Shikhar Dhawans and Rohit Sharmas have had no such opportunity. After the Champions Trophy in England, India are scheduled to play most of their cricket overseas. In such a scenario, it augurs well for the likes of Yadav, Kumar and Jadeja to adapt to conditions faster.
Bowling has only been one such aspect in India's impressive outing so far. Fielding, in which they've surprised their opponents with their agility, has been another high altogether.
In one of the earlier matches of the Champions Trophy, former England skipper Nasser Hussain — who had some uncharitable things to say about India's fielding in a scathingly honest assessment — said during commentary that "They (Indian fielders) don't seem to be donkeys anymore." That's quite a turnaround!
And finally, it is India's batting that's working like a dream. Skipper MS Dhoni has taken risks -- of opening with Rohit Sharma, continuing with the five-bowler theory, restoring faith in R Ashwin and giving an in-form Jadeja the space to express themselves. In doing so, the top-order has repaid Dhoni's trust.
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