India’s job cut out before World Cup
›
These kind of games will tell us what we need to improve upon. We need to have good balance and we need to get our act right before the World Cup. VIRAT KOHLI, India captain
LEEDS: India started the one-day series confidently, but at the end of it have been left grappling for answers in key areas. The 2-1 series defeat against England has shown we are not the only strong contenders for next year’s World Cup. In typical English conditions, it will be a different ball game.
Bizarre selections, a misfiring batting line-up, an insipid bowling attack and a listless fielding unit all resulted in the big final of the limited-overs series turn into a horror day for India.
Having conceded the psychological edge to England at Lord’s, the visitors lost the plot at Headingley on Tuesday as the rampaging hosts outplayed Virat Kohli’s boys by eight wickets. It halted India’s unbeaten run at nine series wins in bilateral series, which started after the defeat to Australia in January, 2016.
India conceded the momentum at Lord’s and the Leeds pounding has given the team a reality check.
The poor show has undone the advantage India had gained by their early domination. On the other hand, England have ticked all the boxes in their World Cup preparation.
STRANGE SELECTION
India have been left with concerns over key batting slots, especially No 4. Leaving out KL Rahul for Dinesh Karthik made little sense at Leeds and playing Bhuvneshwar Kumar for Umesh Yadav also backfired.
Karthik at No 4 was a failed experiment as India could only manage a below par 256/8 after being put in to bat. It proved insufficient, and for the first time, Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav were outdone by the England spin duo of Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali.
Rashid took three crucial wickets while the Indian spinners went wicketless.
Joe Root and captain Eoin Morgan’s match-winning partnership proved India cannot be relying on just one player.
England have exposed gaping holes, but India have almost a year to sort out their combination and strategy for matches that are likely to be played in very English conditions.
India pacer Shardul Thakur, drafted straight into the playing eleven for the final game, anointed England favourites for the mega event. “England are favourites because it’s their home conditions. They know them better, how to play here, so other teams have a big challenge to play here.
They have played well against Australia recently and now against us, so it will be difficult to beat them. But when we do come back, we will be all geared up,” said Thakur, who was left to face the media after the defeat.