ODI series: India aim to lay down marker in England
Bhuvneshwar doubtful as India, boosted by T20 series win, take on topranked hosts
The big picture from the first half of India’s tour of England was always going to be provided by the one-dayers. With the World Cup less than a year away, and to be played at the same venues, the series has been billed as a contest between the strongest contenders for the mega event.
The three matches in six days will give a glimpse of where India and England stand as they look to settle on combinations and gameplan. India can claim the psychological edge having won the T20 series, but the hosts are topranked in ODIs and have won their last 10 bilateral series.
India’s key pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar is doubtful after missing the last T20 in Bristol due to a stiff back. “Bhuvneshwar has come here to train. He is going to try and bowl and see how he feels. He looks fine to me as of now. Hopefully, he will be ready tomorrow,” said Rohit Sharma.
Though he did light jogging, he didn’t bowl in the nets. Bhuvi’s absence turns the spotlight even more on wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal. Rohit was confident they would work their magic.
“Kuldeep is an attacking option wherever he plays. He will be bowling 10 overs, hopefully he can extract turn and bounce, which he did in South Africa. We know the middle overs are crucial where the opposition go in terms of scoring runs. It is important to apply the brakes. These two guys will be very important to give us wicket-taking options in the middle.” Chahal and Kuldeep shared 33 wickets in six matches in South Africa.
Trent Bridge will lift the hosts. The last time England played here, against Australia, they got a world record score (481/6). Skipper Eoin Morgan though will be aware that Virat Kohli’s team will test England in ways Australia didn’t. And India have scored nine successive bilateral ODI series victories and are on a high after annihilating South Africa on their turf early this year.
It remains to be seen whether Kohli takes up the No 4 slot. The India captain is looking at slotting KL Rahul at No 3. “Speaking of Rahul batting at 3 or 4, I don’t know where he’ll bat in ODIs. He’s been in great form. I don’t know where the captain wants to bat, that’ll be the most important question,” said Rohit Sharma.
Kohli though is the most destructive batsman in the format. Against South Africa, he set a world record for most runs in a bilateral ODI series, hammering 558 runs with three centuries and a half-century.The last time England played at Trent Bridge, against Australia, they improved on their own world ODI total by amassing 481. That raises high expectations of another run feast. Whoever wins the toss will prefer to chase, said Rohit. “When you are playing on pitches like that, you like to chase, preferably. This team prefers to chase.”England Test skipper, Joe Root, is confident India will find it tough.
TRENT BRIDGE WILL LIFT HOSTS. THE LAST TIME ENGLAND PLAYED HERE, AGAINST AUSTRALIA, THEY GOT A WORLD RECORD SCORE (481/6)