INDIA SEEK TO BUILD MOMENTUM IN HOME SERIES AGAINST AUS
Kohli wants to fix the odd spot before World Cup with strong showing
HYDERABAD: If momentum is fuelled by victories, then India don’t have much of it right now. The T20 whitewash has somewhat stymied India’s World Cup build up after a highly successful tour of Australia and New Zealand, but that should not deter them from continuing to experiment with different combinations in the ODI series starting here on Saturday.
But India also need to win the series to stay in a good space before the World Cup. That’s the challenge for them over the next five one-dayers --- stay ahead of Australia but also ensure all the boxes are ticked for the mega event starting on May 30.
Australia are slightly better off than India as they have another set of five ODIs lined up against Pakistan in the UAE after this. But not getting the services of Steve Smith and David Warner (their one-year ban ends this month) for at least eight of the 10 ODIs in hand --- captain Aaron Fin ch said they might not play at all --- creates a scenario where Australia have to build a World Cup squad around two of their best who have not played inter nationals since the Cape Town Test.
Finch himself has been going through a lean patch, without a fifty in 19 limited-overs innings in a difficult season that has seen him make his Test debut, lead Melbourne Renegades to the Big Bash crown and also questioned on his leadership ability. The team looks in transition but Glenn Maxwell’ s century in Bengaluru comes as a huge relief as Australia may need to look at alternatives up the order.
India look settled in that department though. It is imperative Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan are given the entire series to sort out issues, if any. WhereKLRahul--- viewedasthe backupopener--- orAmbatiRayudu bat will depend entirely on whether Kohli wants to continue at No 3 or come down a spot in the order. The bowling also looks more or less sorted till Bhuv ne sh war Kumar returns for the last three ODIs.
Keeping in mind the conditions in England’s summer and India’s penchant to go with two spinners, K oh li will have to often choose between Bhuvneshwar and Mohammed Shami as opening bowler Jasprit Bumrah’s partner. The same logic may be applied to MS Dhoni’s batting position. D ho ni has bat ted at No 5 in recent outings but could be sent at No 4 in tricky chases so that he is given maximum time to adapt to the pitch and bowling before going hammer and tongs. However, the most important requisition of this series is to find a worthy backup for Hardik Pandya, who has been rested due to a lower back niggle. With Kedar Jadhav donning the role of as pin bowling allrounder, Vijay Shankar looks most promising but his inexperience going into the World Cup won’t change by muchevenif he plays all five ODIs. That leaves Ravindra Jadeja the most viable option, to check if he fits into the Cup plans.