Dharamsala: A depleted Indian ODI side will still start favourites against New Zealand in the five-match ODI series, the first of which takes place here Sunday.
India will be without three key players who have been rested – Ravi Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami. In addition to that they will also miss the services of Shikhar Dhawan (broken thumb) and Suresh Raina (ruled out with viral fever). But that shouldn’t worry them much as the hosts have won all the four bilateral ODI series between the two countries played in India.
The Kiwis, however, have been boosted by the return of their highest wicket-taker in ODIs – Tim Southee and the addition of Corey Anderson, who is considered one of the most destructive batsman in the limited overs format. And against a slightly inexperienced bowling attack of the hosts, the left-hander has the potential to take any match by the scruff of its neck and change its complexion.
“I am looking forward to the ODI series,” stated Anderson here Saturday. “I feel we have the potential to trouble India. This is our best chance of winning an ODI series in India and I don’t want to put a foot wrong.”
India, however, have probably chosen the wrong venue to play the opening game of the series as the HPCA cricket stadium here has the tendency of helping seamers early on. And the Kiwis with Southee, Trent Boult and Anderson in their ranks have the ability to pose a few questions to the Indian batters – among which all eyes will again be on Virat Kohli who has regained form with a wonderful double hundred in the third Test at Indore.
Pressure will also be on limited overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni who will have to win the series 4-1, if India are to jump to the third spot in ODI rankings. The Kiwis (113 points) are currently third with India (110) on fourth. As Kohli has once more led India to the top spot in Test rankings, Dhoni will also be expected to deliver and improve India’s ODI rankings.
Batting-wise India will have to bank on the likes of Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane and Kohli while in bowling the experience of Amit Mishra will come in handy. The pace attack, though looks a bit fragile with Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah and Dhawal Kulkarni lacking the requisite experience.
But even then, because of their batting firepower, the hosts definitely have an advantage over the visitors.
Dhoni banks on advice from Kohli
Limited overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni stated here Saturday that he is using Virat Kohli’s advice more and more on the field of play. The wicket-keeper batsman also indicated that he may slightly push himself up the batting order, but not to as high as No. 4.
“I have already started using him (Kohli) more. If you witness a match you will see I have regular interactions with him on the field. After all, he is the Test skipper and a future captain in all formats. My job is to see that a smooth transition occurs for him when I go away, because two individuals will always have different methods of leading,” stated Dhoni.
The Indian limited overs skipper also supported the selectors’ decision to rest some key seniors. “Look this season we are playing only eight ODIs and 13 Tests. After that there will be the IPL and the Champions Trophy,” pointed out Dhoni. “So it is important that you rotate players, rest the key members at some point of time or the other and try out the bench strength. It will only be beneficial for Indian cricket. In fact it is because we play in India where a win only matters, we can’t rest players like Virat or Jinks (Ajinkya Rahane),” the skipper added.
Dhoni also asserted that he was not worried about the inexperienced pace bowling line-up. He asserted that both Jasprit Bumrah and Umesh Yadav have it in them to trouble the opposition. “Then there is Dhawal (Kulkarni) who has done fantastically well at the domestic level. He deserves a chance,” asserted Dhoni.
Agencies
