Cherry in the city of oranges

At 143 for 4 in the second innings and still trailing behind by 182 runs only a die-hard optimist, the kind who works on a crossword puzzle with a fountain pen, will believe that India can survive the oppressive odds. Either way, we await the outcome with crossed fingers irrespective of the looming inevitability perhaps.

It is never easy chasing a massive 558 but as India showed during the Sri Lanka series on two occasions, both at Ahmedabad and Mumbai, they made imposing totals look dwarfish. At Nagpur expectations may have been slightly less exuberant given the penetrative bowling attack of the Proteas but a sudden collapse of the kind that happened on the third day was not foreseen either.

Virender Sehwag plundered at will and whatever plans Graeme Smith had for him were clearly made to look grossly in-operational. Sehwag continued with his now famous methodical demolition spree completely defying convention, circumstances and comprehension. His 109 runs was almost ultimately half the Indian aggregate score of 233 and reflects the priceless value of that contribution.

That India felt the gaping absence of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman (and to a lesser extent Yuvraj Singh) will be the ultimate understatement of the day . As six wickets fell within the equivalent of three boundaries, we were clearly swimming with the sharks with the latter sighting their lunch buffet.

A certain Dale Steyn had gloriously stained us with a rich conquest of 7 for 51. A massive struggle for survival commenced with a follow-on. It did not help a wee bit that India's uninterrupted run vendor Gautam Gambhir came a cropper, a rare occurrence, in both the innings.

In the home-town of the BCCI President Shashank Manohar himself the new stadium looks sparsely filled with vast empty spaces reminding you of Shah Rukh Khan's romantic tribute in a silent baseball stadium as he sang Mitwa in Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna. There are not enough people to watch the two best Test teams in the world in the comfort of home conditions, even if the camera deliberately overlooks the colored bucket seats without posteriors resting on them .That is the tragic reality.

Now Nagpur is a real modest, simple and likeable city unless you happen to be here during the excruciating months of it's famous summer when temperatures soar high into the blistering sun above.

The Pride Hotel, where from time immemorial the entire contingent stays is an old-fashioned place with a quaint charm of it's own, is literally walking distance from the airport. The whole city is supposed to be madly abuzz about the cricketers presence as obviously that is the big event for it which is totally understandable.

Yet, there is a conspicuous absence of autograph hunters outside the hotel this time round partly, perhaps explained by the huge security apparatus. But are we actually seeing the natural increasing viewer-fatigue caused by excess cricket?

After all, we have been playing cricket almost relentlessly since the time of the Champions Trophy last year in South Africa. The IPL 3 ad blitzkrieg is already on which will be followed by another burst of T20 World Cup promotions. Inside the new cricket stadium, groups of fans are interspersed in small batches across its impressive enclosures.

While it is easy to pontificate in TV studios that Test matches will be easily absorbed in smaller cities and towns, it could be hyperbolic as the Nagpur attendance demonstrates. Really sad.

In the city of oranges, the red cherry is not appetizing enough. Maybe that should be food for thought.