Sehwag started the innings with a smashing square drive and then chose to dug onto the shorter ones directed at him over and over again. Looked like the strategy he would adapt to stay longer at the crease. End result, he smashed 175 individual runs without any fuss. 69 run partnership with Sachin, 83 with Gambhir and 203 with Kohli meant that Indian Top order are in super shape to carry on this form for remaining matches. Looking at the dismissals, none of it was earned by Bangladesh bowlers. Sachin would be cautious running with Sehwag in following matches, but then great fielding by Shakib al Hasan ensured a confusion and hence the run out.
Gambhir was milking the bowling. The Pitch helped the Spin bowlers and Gambhir is easily the best player of spin bowling amongst Indian batsmen. A very soft dismissal ended his innings. Kohli came and played a scintillating innings, this being his world cup debut. He never showed any nerves, though he accepted during his interview that he was nervous. But then, come on, having Sehwag at the other end, any batsmen who is playing along, would go unnoticed. That’s the time Kohli utilized to play run-a-ball innings till he completed 50 and then accelerated for the second half. Overall, our batsmen unit had a great outing.
During the second Innings, Sreesanth wanted to make good of the little opportunity that he got. But then he tried too hard and got smashed by Bangladesh opening batsmen. All he should have done is stick to the basics as Munaf Patel from the other end did. Zaheer proved to everyone, why he is the strike bowler for India. It was not a question of doing the magic with the new ball. It’s more of a scenario, where one should not give enough room for batsmen to play their strokes. Zaheer and Munaf did their job perfect throughout their spell. Munaf especially was too good in death overs too, as he has the knack of picking wickets. Good performance in South African conditions would have been a morale booster for him. Somewhere along the line, we should thank Shane Warne, as he moulded Munaf Patel during IPL.
Grey areas for India at the end of three games till date
1. Sehwag’s running between the wickets – During the warm-up game against Aussie, Sehwag showed to the world his weak point, which opponent teams can cash in. Bangladesh perfected it in first match, but they got the bigger fish out of the effort.
2. Fielding – Zaheer, Sachin, Munaf, Sehwag are players to be hidden in the field. Considering all these 4 would play in major matches, Dhoni has to be strategical in placing them in outfield.
3. Third Seamer – Nehra’s fitness is a question mark, though Indian denies it stating that it’s not true. Sreesanth screwed up his chance against Bangladesh. Suppose Dhoni picks 3-1 fast spin combination again, he would be thinking a lot.
4. Yuvraj’s batting form – For India to fare well in this world cup, Dhoni would badly want Yuvi to strike form with the bat. But then he has silently pushed Yuvi down the order and made him to fight with Raina for a place. Already Raina replaced him in Grade ‘A’ list of cricketers maintained by BCCI. Kohli is fixed for No.4 slot, as he has scored a splendid hundred in his world cup debut.
5. Injury concern – Overall, this Indian team is fighting injury problems and enough gaps between matches would also create a scenario where we have to be cautious during practice sessions. Sehwag and Gambhir are already fighting Shoulder and elbow Injury respectively.
We should quickly address it and ensure that we are better prepared for Quarter finals.
Next big match on the cards would be South Africa against West Indies. My cards are on West Indies win, if they chase down the target.
Prashy.
Munaf Patel if he can concentrate and remove his lazy tag then he can truly challenge his spot in playing eleven. Bowling Seem to be a worry. India can't defend 200-270 with this bowling. Also We can't rely completely on Part time spinners. Sehwag running b/w the wickets has always been a worry. But one thing which can shadow the Worries is our strength in Batting. India has one of the best Batting line up, So its about finding a perfect blend so as to succeed. Nice summary by the way.
ReplyDelete@Venkat - Based on the opponents, we should turn on and off our aggression. Let it be same bowling line up, all we have got to ensure is pick up some early wickets and then put the pressure on. I agree, our batsmen cannot have a bad day at the office. Its a must till we clinch the trophy.
ReplyDelete@ Prashy-nice one as usual with good observations but can I ask you a question...can the captain and a player come out so openly to criticise a team mate as it had happened in the case of Sreesanth which 90% will have only a demoralising effect on him and I think it is better to have Zaheer,Munaf,Piyush n Bhajji as the bowling combo throughout this tourney n wish against England...Yuvraj gets a chance to bat and makes up his lost chances!!!
ReplyDeleteAs far as the 1st big match in this tourney between the Proteas n West Indies...am rooting that Proteas will win it comfortably...if they bat first...Amla will play the Sehwag role(bat through the 50 overs)...his stats is just awesome as it goes parallel with his amount of concentration n street smartness and coupled with Kallis' presence in the line-up...it gives them venom to their killer fangs...AB DeVilliers,Albie Morkel,JP Duminy can play good finishing knocks...if they bowl first,then Windies will be facing the best pace bowling line-up with the likes of Dale Steyn,Morne Morkel,Tsotsobe,Albie Morkel n Kallis...looks to me that Proteas will win it hands down...but Windies come with some entertainers n fighters,so hoping that the match will go down the wire cos of Gayle who like a gale can blow any nation away to its home!!!
You need a wild card and character like Sreesanth, his biggest problem is not controlling the swing. So that amounted to his frustration and he lost his line and length when he was put on for second spell. What I fear about India is seven batsmen have to fail for them to put up a poor score, but if that happens we don't have the bowlers to win the match. Ashwin would get a look and India need to be ruthless with no soft corners. Prashanth, your analysis of India for the next upcoming matches are analyzing -ve aspects, it is only fair that your analysis is unbiased and brings out what would work and what may not work.
ReplyDelete@MDR - I feel Sehwag is daring to speak the truth here. Sreesanth have to face the brunt here, as he is also fighting for a place. Team has a plan, when it comes to keeping Bangladesh tight during the run chase and initial breakthroughs would have pushed them down early. The same media might come hard at us, if we had scored 320 and Bangladesh would have chased it. With due credit to Bangladesh batting unit, we could have curtailed them to even lesser score and avoid everybody discussing the weak links of our bowling unit.
ReplyDeleteLook at what New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Australia did to their opponents. That Vigour was absent when we played against Bangladesh and we could attribute it to Sreesanth's poor show.
I am not looking Proteas match as easily as you view it. Time for West Indies to step up and announce themselves. Come on Gayle, Bravo and Pollard. I am looking forward to Roach and Benn shining with the ball.
@Swami - Chawla proved that he looks for wickets whenever he bowls. Harbhajan is a different bowler, when he is allowed to bowl to his strengths, which is wicket taking, rather than run containing option. Dhoni packs other bowlers in such a way that Zaheer and Harbhajan go all out for wickets. Nehra have to chip in with wickets, when he gets a bowl. Under Ganguly, Srinath Zaheer and Nehra achieved that in 2003. They simply ran through the batting line ups till the Semi finals and had a bad day in the finals.
ReplyDeleteSreesanth would have been given a free license to go hard against Bangladesh. Just that he had a bad day. Frankly to tell, I dont think so, Sehwag's statement should be interpreted negatively at all. Third seamer is essential and all three seamers should go all out for wickets. Players really know what's coming up. Overall, we should not have off day at all.
Chawla is the second spinner option in minds of thinktanks. I guess, Ashwin has to wait for his chance.
My Analysis was more towards addressing quick concerns that are facing us. Positives are there for everybody to see. That's our batting line up. But, I am highlighting the negatives, so as to answer ourselves, as for all of us, Heart only says India would win the world cup, Head never says it.