Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

3rd ODI: India need to change batting approach in series decider

3rd ODI: India need to change batting approach in series decider

Jolted by a thumping defeat in its last game, the Indian team is expected to tweak its batting template from cautious to a more fearless one in the series-deciding third ODI against England here on Sunday.

The team under Rohit Sharma did put up an ultra-aggressive batting show with a great degree of success during the recently concluded T20 International series but the manner in which it chased a below-par target of 247 in the second ODI has left a lot to be desired.


Rohit would put his hand up and admit that he and other veteran Shikhar Dhawan, were a bit on the defensive in the wake of some fine swing and seam bowling from Reece Topley and David Willey.

That Virat Kohli's endless saga of failures has only compounded the problems is also a big factor but senior openers playing out two maiden overs at the start, didn't indicate a positive mindset either.

Therefore a change in approach is required and for that a paradigm shift in the mindset while going for the tricky run-chases unlike the first game at the Oval where the game was singlehandedly won by Jasprit Bumrah's six-wicket haul.

"I want these guys to take the game on and see if they can find something different about their own game rather than looking at the team's role. If they get the team out of that situation imagine the confidence they are going to get from that," Rohit had said after the second game.

The approach of going for leather from the word "go" worked wonderfully in T20 Internationals and there is no reason that it can't work in the 50-over format which many teams see as an extension of two T20 innings.

In fact, even England's star-studded batting line-up has looked complete out-of-sorts in the two games and suddenly it seemed that hosts with power hitters of the calibre of Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes and Liam Livingstone are playing an archaic one day game.

Dhawan, Kohli and concerns in ODI

But India won't mind as long as these formidable men are being kept under a tight leash but the visitors would have to alter their playbook. And it will be a challenge in a morning ODI at Old Trafford where the ball moves appreciably and India has their 2019 World Cup semi-final defeat in mind at this venue

Rohit's approach in most of the games isn't a problem but Indian team management led by head coach Rahul Dravid will have its own set of issues if 37-year-old Dhawan is their choice going into next year's 2023 ODI World Cup

The left-hander apart from Rohit and Kohli has been the most prolific scorer, partly because he opens the batting but also because two supremely talented players in their prime in the last decade gave him a chance to play his natural game

But with the volume of bilateral ODIs shrinking considerably (most teams play three-match series) and Dhawan playing only one format, he is always having these forced breaks, which is certainly affecting his rhythm

While ODI World Cup is still 15 months away it needs to be deliberated upon seriously whether Rohit, Dhawan and Kohli will be India's Nos. 1, 2 and 3 going forward

Coming to Kohli, possibly he would be looking forward to this more than a month-long break after this game as he is expected to get back to the nets and to the drawing board to seek a solution to his problem of front-foot press and jabbing and poking at deliveries moving away from the length

The weakness is well documented but now the solution is needed as far as the white-ball game is concerned.

In red ball, a particular shot can be avoided and runs can still be scored but in a format where time is of the essence, a solution is needed as runs can be scored off particular deliveries as it happened at his peak

Jadeja's ever-changing role

As far as India's bowling attack is concerned, it has performed as per expectations in at least four of the five white-ball games so far

Bumrah has hit the straps and Mohammed Shami more often than not produces those unplayable wicket-taking deliveries. Yuzvendra Chahal has altered his technique as he is bowling a tad slower and letting the ball hang in the air to create deception

Prasidh Krishna with his ability to get bounce even from length will only get better and Hardik Pandya's bowling rhythm has certainly brought smiles back in the Indian camp

The only worrying aspect will be Ravindra Jadeja's sharp decline as a potent left-arm spinner, which probably has gone unnoticed and papered over by impressive performance by the others

Jadeja has transformed into a batting all-rounder and only time will tell if that will work for India in sub-continental conditions where at least two spinners will need to bowl 20 overs and the Saurashtra man is expected to be one among those two.

Teams

England: Jos Buttler (C), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Brydon Carse, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Craig Overton, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Reece Topley, David Willey

India: Rohit Sharma (C), Shikhar Dhawan, Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Arshdeep Singh.

(PTI)

More For You

Sir Sajid Javid leads commission 'tackling social divisions'

Sir Sajid Javid (Photo by Tom Nicholson-WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Sir Sajid Javid leads commission 'tackling social divisions'

A cross-party group has been formed to tackle the deep divisions that sparked last summer's riots across England. The new commission will be led by former Tory minister Sir Sajid Javid and ex-Labour MP Jon Cruddas.

The Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion has backing from both prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and Tory leader Kemi Badenoch. It brings together 19 experts from different political parties and walks of life.

Keep ReadingShow less
​Masum

Masum was seen on CCTV trying to steer the pram away and, when she refused to go with him, stabbed her multiple times before walking away and boarding a bus. (Photo: West Yorkshire Police)

West Yorkshire Police

Habibur Masum convicted of murdering estranged wife in front of baby

A MAN who stabbed his estranged wife to death in Bradford in front of their baby has been convicted of murder.

Habibur Masum, 26, attacked 27-year-old Kulsuma Akter in broad daylight on April 6, 2024, stabbing her more than 25 times while she pushed their seven-month-old son in a pram. The baby was not harmed.

Keep ReadingShow less
Air India flight crash
Air India's Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating flight AI-171 to London Gatwick, crashed into a medical hostel complex shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12.
Getty Images

India declines UN investigator’s participation in Air India crash probe: Report

INDIA has declined a request from the United Nations aviation agency to allow one of its investigators to observe the probe into the Air India crash that killed 260 people in Ahmedabad on June 12, Reuters reported, citing two senior sources familiar with the matter.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) had offered to provide assistance by sending one of its investigators, following the crash of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner earlier this month. It was an unusual move, as ICAO typically deploys investigators only upon request from the country leading the investigation.

Keep ReadingShow less
Anna Wintour

Wintour’s style of leadership earned her the nickname “Nuclear Wintour”

Getty Images

Anna Wintour steps down as editor of US Vogue after 37 years

Key points

  • Anna Wintour steps down as editor of US Vogue after 37 years
  • She will remain Vogue’s global editorial director and hold senior roles at Condé Nast
  • Wintour transformed US Vogue into a global fashion authority
  • The 75-year-old has received numerous honours, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom

End of an era at US Vogue

Anna Wintour has stepped down as the editor of US Vogue, bringing to a close a 37-year tenure that redefined the publication and saw her become one of the most influential figures in global fashion.

The announcement was made on Thursday (26 June) during a staff meeting in New York. Wintour, 75, will no longer oversee the day-to-day editorial operations of Vogue’s US edition. However, she will continue to serve as Vogue’s global editorial director and Condé Nast’s chief content officer, maintaining senior leadership roles across the company.

Keep ReadingShow less
Post Office scandal trials 'unlikely before 2028'

FILE PHOTO: A Post Office van parked outside the venue for the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry at Aldwych House on January 11, 2024 in London. (Photo: Getty Images)

Post Office scandal trials 'unlikely before 2028'

THE people responsible for the Post Office Horizon scandal may not face trial until 2028, according to the senior police officer leading the investigation.

Commander Stephen Clayman has said that the process is taking longer because police are now looking at a wider group of people, not just those directly involved in decisions about the faulty Horizon computer system, reported the Telegraph.

Keep ReadingShow less