Team Delhi gearing up for Pakistan

NEW DELHI, October 31: There's always 'another' first time. For whatever half a century of cricketing action might be worth, the series-opener of an India-Pakistan encounter always bears nervous excitement. More so on this occasion, when a jam-packed international schedule demands a quickie: off their flight on Thursday evening, our sub-continental neighbours will hit the ground running all the way to the Ferozeshah Kotla on Friday for a slam-bang session with Delhi.
While there is a lot to be said of Pakistan, whatever else might be said of the Delhi Ranji team, this much cannot be denied: it has the unique talent of repeating itself.The team disappointed everybody last season. Ditto the season before that. And before that...
So much so, it has come down to this. November 2 — when Team Delhi plays a practice match against Pakistan — could well be the only time this season when followers of the team's fortunes turn up in decent numbers (a five-figure gathering is expected) to watch them in action. Or rather, watch the Pakistanis in action against them.
If that sounds unfair, consider the evidence. Despite playing more matches (four) at home than away last season, Delhi managed a solitary win in seven outings. This season, an earlier practice match, against Railways, was played out in front of empty stands. Just as well. The outcome of that match, according to coach Vijay Dahiya, came as "a kick up the backside".
While seasoned backsides — some of them in or on the fringes of the national squad — might or might not agree, the clash with Pakistan is an open talent contest for a few promising names in the team more than others. Worthy as the experience gained in domestic cricket is, exposure to international-class opposition like Pakistan can do their vital stats no harm.
Which is why the likes of Virat Kohli, 19, and Rajat Bhatia, 28, are understandably excited. "The Pakistan game will be like a trial match, performances will be noted," says Kohli, who is "ready to face Shoaib Akhtar" even though he concedes "it will be a challenge". Kohli's own 'Challenger Series' — the recently-concluded BCCI version of which he was a part along with Delhi's Gautam Gambhir, Ishant Sharma and Sehwag — continues.
Bhatia, Delhi's leading run-scorer last season and armed with the experience of having "played Akhtar in an inter-club match in England in 2006", is as enthusiastic because "the match is as good an opportunity as one can hope for". True. Given the competitive edge to any match involving a Pakistani side and an Indian one, some performances count for more than others.
Dahiya promises that, come Friday, the team will be "charged up by the special feeling of playing Pakistan". Yet, the inability to rise to the occasion may well come back to haunt Delhi on home turf just a day later, on November 3, when they face Rajasthan.
If not, with the cushion of just one more match at home this season, against Saurashtra, Delhi's remaining opposition in Group A of the Super League — Mumbai, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu — are always there to help the team experience deja vu.
Can Delhi escape censure this season? Well, all that the crystal ball says is: if you want to be champions, you must perform like champions. Hopefully, Pakistan will be just the titillation that Delhi needs.