The Darkest Cloud ...

... yeah all that stuff. Well, what do you know ?? It might indeed be true.

In the despair and gloom of India's shabby surrender to Pakistan, Yuvraj's grand century stands out like a beacon, like a diamond amidst the coals, like a Brian Lara amidst the rest of the West Indies.

Indeed, so breathtaking is Yuvi's batting and in particular yesterday's innings that I am tempted to say the strokeplay was almost Laraesque in nature. The hooked six off Razzaq was a shot to be remembered for a long long time. In all my cricket watching career I have never seen any Indian batsman other than Tendulkar hit a six like that. (Incidentally that is one shot Lara does not quite play so well)

But that was just one of the many handsome shots on display. The garland of drives from square point to mid wicket off both front and back foot punched crisply was a beauty in itself. Particularly encouraging was the way he handled Kaneria.

Yes, he does have some problems with his balance, in particular tends to put too much weight on his front foot at times and is a bit shaken up sometimes by Akhtar's pace but hey who doesnt have his weaknesses ??

I do think this is not an insignificant little relief act in a tragedy of Titanic proportions. On the contrary it is a harbinger to what I think is going to be a long career at #4 for one of India's most naturally gifted stroke-makers since the incumbent #4 himself. And that in turn will go a long way in shaping Team India's fortunes over the next 10 years.