Wounded India look to hit back

Cricket Third one-dayer : Batting order in focus as Dhoni's men target New Zealand in crucial game

For the first time in the last one month, the film of India’s triumphant march against New Zealand slipped off the reel on Thursday.

And for the first time in the series, New Zealand’s idea of fighting back turned into a coherent narrative. In some ways, the defeat of hosts in the second one-day international has infused life in the series. So as Black Caps revel in the rediscovery of their lost character, India, humbled for once, are in hunt of a leash. 

It adds to the task of the Indians that the five-match one-day series is now delicately balanced at 1-1. A victory at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in the third game on Sunday would be significant leading into the fourth contest. And it could be a frustrating thought for the home side that all this could have been averted had they hung in just a bit longer in Delhi.

Their six-run loss chasing a below-par total of 242 has opened up the holes that were hidden in their authoritative mauling of Black Caps. India’s batting fortunes, in this series, largely rests on the top three due to a thin middle-order. The opening stand of Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma has not fired in unison, and if Virat Kohli has an occasional off day at No 3, the pressure is on Mahendra Singh Dhoni to guide the youngsters to the finishing line.

Among the new bunch in this experimental side, Hardik Pandya has made the opportunity count. He played a stellar role on his debut ODI in Dharamsala with the ball, and had nearly taken a sinking Indian chase to the threshold of victory in Delhi before losing way. Experience was probably the only component found short in his heartening effort.

Kedar Jadhav, too, has impressed with his part-time off-spin besides chipping in with a useful 41 on Thursday. Others like Manish Pandey, who has been given a golden opportunity to bat at No 4, need to justify the faith of selectors. Pandey has shown impatience in both his brief outings and if he wishes to prolong his ODI career, he needs to show the promise that reflected in his batting on the domestic circuit, or for that matter in that masterful innings in Australia in January.

With Suresh Raina not joining the squad in Mohali, one would wait with interest the eleven Dhoni picks for the match. The conditions here have favoured fast bowlers in the past, and one could spot a sprinkle of grass on the pitch on the eve of the match. For India, Umesh Yadav has been splendid with the new ball while Pandya is fast emerging as an able ally. The two would relish bowling in helpful conditions. Jasprit Bumrah, too, has been making significant contributions, especially as a shrewd death over bowler. He has brilliantly bowled within the corridor and suffocated runs to put the pressure on the Black Caps’ batting.

And it surely would not have lost on New Zealand that their middle-order, somewhat like the Indian line-up, has been rather vulnerable in the series. The century by captain Kane Williamson notwithstanding, their middle-order had suffered an inexplicable collapse in the previous match also. The form of their senior batsmen, opener Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor, continue to be worrisome.

However, their biggest takeaway from Thursday’s victory was the performance of their seamers. Trent Boult’s miserly figures of 2-25, despite the dew making the ball slippery, played a key role in pegging the Indians back. Tim Southee was right up there with him in showing that New Zealand’s No 3 ranking was no fluke, not to forget Guptill chipping in with two crucial wickets.

The win has given New Zealand the much-needed confidence that had been eroded by their Test performance. But India, stung in their backyard, would bounce back hard. The battle for supremacy in the series has just become hotter!