Challenges ahead for the world champions

The Border Gavaskar trophy has been one-way traffic so far; the show put up by India in Australia cannot be digested by the fans. India has had an intimidating tours in the past but they have never been completely washed away by the waves of the opposition. India, under a captain, who has had a successful journey has been stopped by the Aussies, as India registered their 7th consecutive loss overseas. Another defeat in Adelaide under the Sehwag, and the morale in the team will come down as the triangular ODI series is on the cards. Before this series, India has once been drowned in Australia under Sachin Tendulkar. Since then, India has been looking for a turnaround Down Under to prove they are the champions. The problem for India’s shamble in England was Zaheer’s absence and constant injuries to the batsmen. If that would have been the case, India’s show in Australia should have been better as they would have learnt from their mistakes in England.

India have a 3-day break before they fly to Adelaide for practice. A 3-day break will help them get their minds relaxed . The fourth test kicks off in Adelaide as India go with the hope of avoiding the objectionable prospect of being whitewashed by Australia. Defeat in England by India was reasonable as England played astonishing cricket and outplayed India in all the departments. That’s not the case here. In England, it’s just the that pitches outplayed the visitors as they were not familiar with those kind of pitches. As the one-day series starts, India’s batting should be able to revive itself. I feel that the following needs to be done by the India to perform better in the tri-series:

1. Openers should come-out with resilience

The Delhi-mates Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir are the icebreakers for India, as they have given India good starts in the past. For India in 2008 CB series, Gautam Gambhir was the in-form player as he had 400 plus runs during that tour. The big-man Viru got a job as a leader in the last test match to pull India out of another terrible test series, as they would be pushed behind SA in ICC test rankings.

Gautam Gambhir and Sehwag opening partnership records:

1. They have scored 6 hundreds with the highest of 201 and a total of 2085 for India together.
2. 11th position for the highest runs made by a duo in Test cricket with 3854 in mere 70 Innings.
3. 6th Position for Highest Opening Partnership Runs with the highest average among the Top 6.
4. 10 Hundreds made together in Test Cricket.
5. They have scored 23 Fifties in Test Cricket which is the 4th Highest ever.
6. 9th in the list of Highest Partnership Runs in T20 Matches.
7. 4th for the Highest Opening Partnership Runs in T20 Matches.

It’s going to be a limited overs contest. Gauti’s form is not a problem right now as he found his rhythm in the Sydney test, it’s about Virender Sehwag who has not been in good nick as was able to register just a single half-century in the test series. He needs to get into the groove.

In Asia-cup 2010 finals, India needed to chase 280-odd runs. It depended on the start given by the Delhi-boys. They openers were able to give a good start but they failed to convert it to big-score as they were dismissed in quick succession by Chaminda Vaas. This says that they have got starts but they fail to carry forward. That has to be corrected.

So there will be no problem in the pitch as it might play even throughout the game as India struggled in the test-series. Toss becomes crucial under these conditions. It’s not about winning the toss; they just have to stick to the basics. Under those conditions, batting first will be a good option. The openers have a vital role to play. Viru and Gauti needs to come out with fortitude, needs to bat sensibly against the Australian bowlers. Anyone of them should bat till 30-35 overs as they can re-build the innings at any kind of situation.

2. Irfan Pathan’s role as an all-rounder

	Matches	Inn	NO	Runs	Best	Avg	100	50
Ind	107	78	18	1368	83	22.80	-	5
	Matches	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BB	Avg	5WI	Econ
Ind	107	48	4546	152	5/27	29.91	1	5.27

During 2007-08 tour Down Under, Irfan Pathan’s contribution in India’s victory in Perth test was critical. The man who can do the job with the bat in certain circumstances.

He has the potential to do well especially against the Aussies as he made his debut against Australia, so recalling him into the squad gives India an all-rounder which balances the batting-lineup. Just recalling what happened in 2008 T20 international in Australia, Irfan Pathan was the only man to get into double figures as recovered India from a situation that were not used to be as India tottered at 58/9. Irfan’s handy contribution helped India to the score of 74. He has five 50’s on the trot in ODIs; enough to support his skill with the bat. He can also bat at no.3; depending on the situation his position in the batting will be finalized.

His job with the ball will be crucial as he knows the conditions better. Australian tracks will really help him as it will be on the slower-side, so off-cutters and leg-cutters will be helpful in these kinds of circumstances.

3. Dhoni needs to bat up the order.

For the past couple of years, it was all about why Dhoni was not batting up the order? His usual position in the line-up is at no.6. As he is the captain, he needs to take the accountability and bat up the order when needed by the team or when the batting fails constantly.

Asia-Cup 2010, it was India and Sri Lanka at the finals. India was asked to chase 280-odd runs by the Sri Lanka. As India was in progress with the run-chase, openers were not able to endure the bowling of Lankans as they were dismissed in quick succession by Vaas. Dhoni entered when India needed some-one to stay there and bat for the whole 50 overs. It was difficult for him to accelerate as the wickets tumbled at the other end.

In the group stage of Asia-cup 2010, the contest between India and Pakistan came to the wire as India edged Pakistan by 3 wickets. In the run-chase, Dhoni was required up the order as they had lost wickets in quick succession. His position at no. 4 proved to be worth as he and Suresh Raina shared 98-run 3rd wicket partnership which steered India from a tricky situation. So if Dhoni bats up the order, his position at no. 4 will be worth as he has good record.

4. Short-pitched balls a problem?

India’s batsmen still have problem with handling the short-balls. Youngsters found it difficult to handle short balls when they tour overseas which was the case in South Africa when India toured in 2011 January.

Taking the case of South Africa tour, the five-match ODI series was comfortably bagged by the hosts. The first ODI in Durban between India and South Africa was a terrible performance with the bat by the Indians. India had to chase 290 for victory. Indians chase started ghastly as South African speedstar Wayne Parnell stunned India’s batsmen with short-pitched deliveries. Almost the preponderance of India’s batsmen were out of short-pitched deliveries, exception being Dhoni and Kohli.

So the wickets in Australia for ODI’s will be different from the wicket that has been used for test series. The wickets get slower as the game progresses, so short ball should not be a problem for India.