Even Stevens going into Dharmshala

After a brief distraction from the series due to the HudHud phenomenon and all the destruction, both the teams will like to refocus on the game ahead. The venue is the picturesque ground at Dharamshala in the lap of the Himalayas.

At 1317 meters above sea level it is bound to be windy and chilly by Indian standards during this time of the year.  This is the second One dayer being hosted here. The last one was in Jan 2013, where England got the better of India by 7 wickets, thanks to an unbeaten Ian Bell hundred.

India would remember that match and would keep in their mind to prepare for this match. They could only put a below par total (less than 230) on board which was easily overhauled by England.

India lost the No 1 Ranking to the Aussies, thanks to the last match being called off in this series. They played like a No 1 ranked team in Delhi prior to that and it was an inspired leadership from Captain Dhoni to help India claw back into the game from a hopeless situation. The teams have added interesting options to the squad. India have added Akshar Patel to the squad and Miller gets added to the Windies side. Both seem unlikely to play at Dharamshala, which should favour the seamers though; Unless Ambati Rayudu is rested and Akshar plays as an allrounder. Rayudu has been decent with the bat, but has not pulled his weight around. To cement his place he needs to get a big innings sooner than later. The Team Management is grooming him for the No 4 position at the moment. But is he up for the task? If Akshar plays, then he might also replace Amit Mishra as the second spinner. Akshar is a better bat than Amit Mishra but it all depends on what future role both are earmarked to play for Team India. If Akshar plays, it would be a spectacular rise for the Gujarat boy, who was an unheard commodity till as late as a couple of IPL seasons back. In his last two IPL stints he has been not only impressive but compelling with his rare confidence and bravado.

India now has a Kuldeep Yadav and Akshar Patel in the squad. If both do not play in the tournament, then why select them? Is India searching for a third spinner in the squad for the tour Down Under? Is that what MSD is mulling?

West Indies have looked surprisingly settled despite the embarassing loss at Delhi. Inspite of the absence of a Gayle (and a Lendl Simmons), the batting unit should look unchanged. What they are missing in Indian conditions is Sunil Narine. He is miserly with the ball and it is always nice to have a wicket taking bowler who is shown respect by the best of batsman in World Cricket today. Besides, you could use him intelligently at the death and he could be the difference between the sides in the end. I hope he is able to clear his bowling action before the World Cup. What Murali was to Srilanka, Narine is to the Windies today. Also, Marlon Samuels should not have batted so low in the order in Delhi. A man who got you a victory in the last match with a hundred, must be allowed to bat at his favourite position. He should be batting at 3 or 4. I sense he was disappointed with the way he got out, or the situation in which he got out. He would have definitely liked to come at 4 in place of Pollard. Not that Pollard did not justify his promotion, but you need to ensure some continuity.

India look likely to tame the Windies again, unless ofcourse if the Windies get to bowl first and pack off the Top 4 cheaply. In these conditions Taylor, Sammy and even Andre Russell might be potent in the first 15 overs. Would love to see how India handle the bowling. This will show how we are going to fare in seaming and swinging conditions later in the year and early next year.

Windies back to their old ways...

Alas, all that adulation for Dwayne Bravo and the spirit of the Caribbean is seeming misplaced. Chasing a gettable Indian total and at 170-2, Windies (or for that matter any side would have) looked like clinching another win and making it an embarrassing 0-2 for M/s Dhoni. But it was not to be. Some reckless batting (the usual Calypso style of batting we are used to seeing in the post-Vivian Richards-Greenidge-Haynes era) and tight spin bowling led to one of the more famous wins Team India has had in recent times. The Windies batsman were in a mood to leave early for some hot party in some nook of Gurgaon perhaps !!

The fact that India clawed back into the game is something Dhoni would be proud of, albeit in front of the home crowd against a team they are fancied to win against in all formats these days. After all, India are the defending World Champs. Nevetheless, this will give India (read Dhoni) the confidence in his team's abilities to come out, and come out victorious, from tight and seemingly dead-duck situations.

For the Windies, Dwayne Smith proved his class with a promising innings. Smith is a much improved cricketer (read batsman) from the days when he burst on to the scene as a bowling allrounder who could tonk the ball a long way. Those days (2003-2007), he used to bat at 7 or 8, and ended up getting out often, trying to hit out of the ground without any notable contributions in the dying moments of the match. Something what an Andre Russel or a Darren Sammy is supposed to deliver today. The IPL has surely resurrected his game and career. Not only has be looked dangerous and destructive, but has looked to stay at the crease, avoid getting out and hence pile on the misery for the opposition. Quite unlike most West Indian openers from the 90s and the last decade. I wish he had found his mojo a tad earlier. He is no longer in his twenties (He will be 32 in April next year), and the Windies might need him for a long time if they have to build a strong side around him and some others. He should be a force in the coming seasons and a key asset for the Windies in the upcoming World Cup. I personally believe that a side whose Openers are in the form of their lives, lend guaranteed success to their sides chances in all formats and conditions.

That is why I feel a Smith and a fit Gayle will be a deadly combination in the coming seasons. Only the Indians and perhaps the Aussies are the other teams to match the duo in terms of what they have to offer these days at the top of the order.

India tested out Umesh Yadav, probably to examine his form and fitness, and explore options for the tour Down Under. Umesh was decent with his pace, but was overshadowed by Shami Ahmed.

Shami Ahmed with his new found vigor after a long tour to England is refreshing to watch. Maybe his marriage in 2014 to the beautiful Hasin Jahan has helped !! His jadedness has vanished !!

After making his First Class debut for Assam in 2010 he has come a long way within 4 years. Not only has he leapfrogged every one else in the race (including the man he had replaced to get his first break in to the Playing XI - fellow Bengal quickie Ashok Dinda), but also surprised every one with his pace and wicket taking abilities. He is deceptively potent. Genial demeanor, but he is at you all the time. He is quietly confident about his abilities, and so is the team management including MSD.

Indian fans would have also heaved a sigh of relief to see Virat Kohli back among the runs, even if it was not his fluent best. Only if he had got a hundred, he and the fans would have declared him back in form. Such is his legacy over the last few years. He has averaged more than 47 in One Day Internationals since 2010. This means he is almost likely to score a half century every time he comes to bat !! In 2011, 2012 and 2013 he has perhaps averaged even more than 50. He and MSD would know, these averages mean nothing if you do not win matches. But arguably, India has been on top of the rankings and on the winning ledge of ODI games thanks largely to Virat Kohli's seamless and prolific batting in the last 2-3 years. He is 'The' Wicket for the opposition these days. If he scores a ton, India win hands down. Lets wish, he rediscovers his hundred scoring form before or during the World Cup. An ominous sign for all opponents.

Well now that India has won, this series is level 1-1, and India has the all important momentum. Seems unlikely they would squander it in the series now. I do not reckon the Windies stand any chance in the next duel. But then, this is Cricket !

India should look to plug holes and spring back

The last match result as mentioned in my previous post was not altogether unexpected for me. Windies looked far more hungrier and determined. India went mostly through the motions and it showed in their intent on the field and on the 22 yards. India fielded poorly, bowled average and then had a field day with the bat. 

The biggest concern for Dhoni would be, in my mind, the form of the ever so dependable Virat Kohli. He would like Virat to get back to form somewhere in the series before he pack his bags for a long sojourn Down Under which ends with the 'Big' tournament. I am sure Ravi Shastri would have given him a pep talk post the match.

India opened well with Ajinkya and Shikhar. Had Ajinkya not run himself out the end result could have been different. Shikhar still looks rusty and not as fluent as he would like to be. If he continues to bat like this, the selectors might start having other ideas for the World Cup. This is like a Pre World Cup practice series, and the selectors would like to see key players get back to form, and try out fringe ones. Murali Vijay is one player who must be waiting for his chance. His luck has run out of late and may be his new bearded look might help.

He can be an asset in subcontinental conditions, but can he be trusted for the World Cup? Why is he in the team at the first place. Robin Uthappa, a much improved version, and a much more hungry version is what we needed to infuse some energy at the top. He could have been the answer to push Shikhar. Murali is easily the 3rd choice, and will remain so for the series and for some time to come. And with Rohit making his intentions clear that he is 90% fit and ready to come back at the top, Shikhar is likely to lose out (and Murali would continue to be relegated as a fringe opener). Unless of course the team management thinks otherwise and would like to push for the age old tactics of a left and right combination to upset the bowlers' rhythms. 

This is also an important game for Ishant Sharma. The man suddenly is no longer in the starting XI of an Indian one day side. He would be nervous today and it is good for him. Ishant could be a vital cog in Team India's World Cup trophy defense plans. India cannot win the coveted trophy with a bunch of nothing bowlers.We have one consistent seamer in Bhuvi. We need another. Shami has bowled well in the death overs but remains expensive. Ishant brings with him the potency of pace and bounce. In Australia he could be a shotgun with a purpose.

From the Windies standpoint, all their IPL gains showed in the match. They now know what it perhaps takes to win in Indian conditions. That is a dangerous ammunition to have against Team India. Almost half the side consists of players who (Dwayne Bravo, Dwayne Smith, Lendl Simmons, Kieron Pollard, Jason Holder and Darren Sammy) are seasoned IPL players now and know the conditions more than any other foreign players. Dwayne Bravo is a wise horse and is a street smart captain who knows his limitations. Playing for Dhoni he would learned quite a few tricks. I give him full points to lead a Windies side to victory (sans Gayle and a banned Sunil Narine) to victory against a full strength Indian side at Kochi (which is no longer an IPL venue). His captaincy was inspired and I would be excited to see how he leads the side rest of the series. If he can string together another set of wins, the Windies would have nailed a vital issue in their one day cricket.

I expect India to bat much better, and perhaps win this for sure. But, Dwayne Bravo is the man. Love his dance moves !!! Hope he gets plenty of opportunities to do some moves today !! lol

Tame Series..

In the midst of a hangover of the recently concluded Asian Games where Indian athletes diverted some attention from the Champions Trophy, comes another series. All headlines claim, what a meaningless series in the wake of a looming series Down Under and an impending World Cup where India are defending champions with the same man at the helm - Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

But, as Dhoni said, he would like to believe that there are plenty to prepare and look forward to. A Windies unit without Gayle and Narine looks half the side on paper, but they have interesting names like Dwayne Smith, Dwayne Bravo and Pollard to keep the interest alive. 

For Team India, the only worry would be around the opening slot in the immediate term. Ajinkya Rahane gets another go at the top where he did make the right noises in England and looks like the correct option to open in Australia-New Zealand as well. He has done well in the domestic season and been prolific at the top for the Rajasthan Royals, the IPL franchise he plays for. However, I could not have been more disappointed at the exclusion of Robin Uthappa. He has been among the runs after an overhaul of his batting style and approach. Kolkata Knight Riders owe a lot to him for the 'coveted' Champions Trophy and the IPL crowns. Maybe he is in the mix for the World Cup, but with Rohit Sharma sure to come back to the Playing XI (and maybe at the top of the order) whenever he is fit, the opportunity for Robin to make the starting XI is remote. Unless ofcourse something dramatic happens. Like the Windies beat India in the series. Which maybe likely if they bat better than us. 

This could happen in the wake of 2 of the Top 3 not in great touch. Shikhar Dhawan is a default opener now for Team India. There is no competition in the form of a Gautam Gambhir or anyone else for the series. Unless Ajinkya or somebody gets unfit Murali Vijay will be warm the bench for the better half of the series. Shikhar has struggled and has not looked the force that catapulted him to the opening slot. He has displaced a hungry and determined Gambhir out of the side. Same curious case vis-a-vis Virat. He has been so impressive and prolific since 2008, that the fans expect him to score hundreds and fifties every match, otherwise he is labelled out of form !! If Shikhar and Virat continue to struggle and Rahane and Raina have an off day, Windies could steal a win !

Kochi is likely to be a belter (God willing, i.e. if it does not rain), and the team that bats better wins. With no Sunil Narine, the onus to win the game for the Windies lies with their power hitters. Pollard, Samuels and Smith. If they come good, they have a chance. Add Sammy and Russell and you may have a smart pack with enough ammunition to upset Team India.

Dhoni knows this, and he would know that any slip up at the top of the order could mean exposing the middle order. However, the batting unit as a whole is well oiled and high on confidence after the English exploits. With Amit Mishra back and eager to impress, Windies should struggle against spin. I guess the way both teams play spin will be the difference in the scores.

I see a comfortable win for Team India at Kochi. It has been a happy hunting ground for Team India, and will continue to be like that.