After Friday’s carnage, India may look to take aggressive approach from the beginning in ODI series-decider against England today
India skipper Virat Kohli reacts during the second ODI against England on Friday. Pic/PTI
Indian cricket team may like to revisit its 50-over template while picking up pieces from Friday’s carnage with an aim to complete a hat-trick of series wins against England in the third and final ODI here on Sunday.
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On batting belters that’s been on offer at the Maharashtra Cricket Association stadium here, England hit an astounding 20 sixes in a 337-run chase which became a cakewalk, thanks to inept bowling from spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Krunal Pandya.
Never before has captain Virat Kohli missed Ravindra Jadeja as much as he would have on Friday when Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes took the mickey out of India’s left-arm wrist and orthodox spinners.
In the bowling department, Kuldeep scripted an unwanted record when he conceded 8 sixes, most by an Indian bowler. He leaked 84 runs in the second game after giving 64 runs in the first. And, so did Pandya, who gave 72 runs in six overs with an embarrassing average of 12 per over.
So, in all probability, the duo could be replaced by leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar, who can also chip in with the bat. From the team’s perspective, it would be impossible to ignore Chahal’s inclusion in the playing XI even though the Haryana leg-spinners hasn’t been in the best of forms.
Pandya senior would still make it to the team because of his batting skills but the apology of left-arm spin has certainly ensured that he won’t be considered as a long term option.
In terms of batting, a total of 337 is certainly not bad by any standards but perhaps India can now look to have strategic shift in terms innings building process.
The Men In Blue are the only team that believe in accelerating in the last 15 overs, a template that was set by their illustrious former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
It has worked on most occasions but of late, world champions England have shown that attacking up front on batting tracks is the way forward.
It might just help Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya with their brand of power-hitting change the course of the innings in the last 10 overs. On the pace front, while India could try going in with left-arm pacer and yorker specialist T Natarajan, in case they want to rest Shardul Thakur.
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