Series sweep achieved, India gear up for bigger battles
India completed an expected one-day series sweep in Sri Lanka on Sunday, but their aim to become an “unpredictable” force will be tested heading into the 2019 World Cup.
India ticked almost every box. Top order solidity – openers Shikhar Dhawan (1) and Rohit Sharma (2) and the skipper (2) hit centuries – was evident and the bowlers got their priority right by taking wickets.
A Sri Lankan team incapable of notching 250 even once was ideal for India to kick off their experiments. However, the failure of the middle-order plan for KL Rahul showed pushing even top players to reinvent may be easier said than done.
India’s pledge to keep pushing to make the side more versatile will also face a tougher test in the home series against Australia starting September 17.
Rahul fell cheaply to spinner Akila Dananjaya in all three games as a middle-order batsman. In fact, he was so uncomfortable facing spin straightaway that stand-in skipper Lasith Malinga brought on Dananjaya the moment Rahul came into bat in the fourth ODI. And he fell for seven, chipping a catch to mid-on.
BIG CHALLENGES
Similarly, facing Mitchell Starc or Mohammad Amir in more seam-friendly conditions could be a big challenge for the top order. Amir did cause damage in the ICC Champions Trophy final. Thus finding the right man for specific slots will be as vital as getting a player to ease into an unfamiliar position.
Kohli though acknowledged the challenge going forward. “We spoke about experimenting with a few guys going up and down the order. We have to try a few things,” he said after the series. “Once we start playing like this and get more confident with the roles we’re given, we can be more unpredictable. And with the talent we have in the side if we can be unpredictable as well, it becomes a lethal combination.
While India’s batting is in full force in Sri Lanka, the bowling depth stood out. Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were never missed. Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar with wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzhvendra Chahal and left-arm spinner Axar Patel were solid.
AXAR IMPRESSES
Bumrah claimed 15 wickets, while Axar made it hard for the batsmen and took six wickets in four games at an average of 25.8.
“It’s the height that really helps him (Axar) get extra bounce and the extra pace. He’s got a very strong shoulder and people find it difficult to sweep him. Kuldeep and Chahal being wrist spinners will always keep you in the game,” said Kohli.
“It’s going to be a challenge among all the bowlers and spinners that are going to be part of the bigger group to make it to the 2019 World Cup.”
Virat Kohli, however, wants to shortlist the names early.
“The best thing is transparency. We address it and tell them this is a bunch of 20-25 people who will make the probables for the World Cup and everyone has an equal opportunity to be tested at different stages.”
It’s going to be a challenge among all the bowlers and spinners that are going to be part of the bigger group to make it to the 2019 World Cup VIRAT KOHLI, On the plans looking forward to the 2019 World Cup