When to solve issues...

Picture Credits: U.S. Wall Street Journal

Before the start of the English tour, Team India had many questions to answer. It felt like India will answer all those questions and authorize their dominance in England. However, after the recently concluded ODI series, India instead of answering the questions have got more problems to solve.

This English series, especially the ODI’s was going to be very crucial because this is the last time India were playing in England before the World Cup. After a comprehensive win in the 1^st ODI, it felt like Team India is the best team at the moment and nothing can stop them. Kuldeep Yadav ran through the English batting line up. However, it’s often said that a team is no.1 for a reason. England, the no.1 team in ODI’s currently came back stronger and easily won the next 2 matches. Joe Root with two classy centuries didn’t allow India to find even a chance to get back in either of the matches. After being castled out by Kuldeep in the first match, the way he adapted and changed his style to play him tells a lot about Root’s character and what he brings to this English team.

The series loss has posed a lot of questions for the Indian team going ahead to the World Cup of 2019. The first being, what is the middle order going to be? This problem has now persisted for a while, even before the series started. However, it felt like KL Rahul will be the one taking the spot looking at his recent IPL form and the century in the T20i series. However, after playing just 2 ODI’s, he was taken out for the 3^rd. Also, he didn’t have much to do in the 1^st ODI as the match was virtually over by the time he came to bat. In the end, he got just one real opportunity to bat at no.4 and he failed in that. This is a real issue with the team management right now, a country like India can’t find a stable no.4. It is because of lack of chances. So far, India has tried Rahul, Rahane, Manish Pandey, Shreyas Iyer, Kedar Jadhav. With Jadhav injured and perhaps will take the no.6 position when he returns. Why KL Rahul just got one chance to prove? If you want a player at one position, give him at least 10 chances and then take a call. Also, in the T20i series, Kohli played at no.4 while Rahul played at no.3 and also scored a century. The same could’ve been tried in the ODI’s too. A batsman of Kohli’s stature can play a vital role at no.4.

With the World Cup being just an year away, it is shocking to see an unsettled middle order. MS Dhoni being booed at Lord’s isn’t a good sight. His lack of confidence to hit shots is being a problem. How is the team management going to address Dhoni’s poor form? Making him bat at no.4 or asking him to vacate his position which is very difficult. Suresh Raina, who got an opportunity in the ODI’s just because Ambati Rayudu failed his fitness Test looks uncertain to handle the bowlers in England. He looks feared while batting these days and I think he needs to go. India has better players in Karthik or Pant to replace Raina. And after Jadhav comes back, his part time spin too won’t be a point to keep him in the side. Although Raina top scored for India in the 2^nd ODI, he was expected to do more, to finish the match for India and he failed miserably. This series has brought up the woes for India’s middle order, not only no.4 but no.5 and no.6 also.

Not only the middle order woes, but this series has brought India’s problem with the backup fast bowlers. Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvaneshwar Kumar have been so good for India especially in the death. With Bumrah out with an injury and Bhuvi playing with a back problem couldn’t give his 100%, India were looking at their bench strength. Umesh Yadav, Sid Kaul and Shardul Thakur were the replacements. Although Yadav looked good with swing at start, but these bowlers need a lot of grooming if they want to play the World Cup. The fitness of Bumrah and Bhuvi are critical for the World Cup.

India lost a bilateral series after 9 consecutive series win. This is a wake-up call for India. They looked a bit over confident coming into the ODI series after winning the T20i series. The World No.1 team England have shaken India from the roots, and I hope Indian team takes this wake-up call positively and address their problems before the World Cup. What their combination is going to be? Are they going to play an extra bowler? What the middle order is going to be like? Is it the end of the road for Dhoni? It’ll be interesting to watch what India does before the World Cup begins and how they manage their team.