MUMBAI: India’s six-wicket defeat to the West Indies within the second ODI at Bridgetown, Barbados on Saturday-their first by the hands of Windies since 2019- should not set the alarm bells ringing.
The guests, in any case, had been making an attempt out a number of gamers forward of the ODI World Cup in opposition to a severely weak group which hasn’t even certified for the ODI World Cup, however the way in which they’ve gone about experimenting with their batting line-up within the first two matches is a trigger for debate.
Within the first ODI, skipper Rohit Sharma got here to bat at No 7-the first time he has batted as little as that since 2011. Ex-captain Virat Kohli did not even bat. Each had been rested from the second ODI and extra curiously, all-rounder Axar Patel walked in at No 4.
Whereas it stays to be seen if Rohit and Virat return for the decider, their close to absence from the center begs the million greenback query: if the concept was to check out a number of youthful gamers, why was the star duo picked for the ODI sequence within the Caribbean within the first place? Additionally, is it a good suggestion to experiment a lot along with your line-up so near the ODI World Cup-in India in October/November?
If the concept is to offer sport time and the arrogance of runs below the belt to the opposite batsmen within the squad, even Rohit, who appears to have simply discovered type within the two-Take a look at sequence, the place he scored 100 and two fifties, however has struggled in ODIs, wanted it.
Within the first ODI, India, surprisingly, selected to bowl first. If the concept was to get some helpful batting apply whereas chasing, it backfired spectacularly as West Indies had been skittled out for merely 114 in 23 overs on a difficult turner.
A former nationwide selector that TOI spoke too wasn’t too enthused with the way in which the Indian group administration has gone about juggling their gamers for every match of this ODI sequence.
“Firstly, in case you needed to play a relatively youthful group on this ODI sequence, then Rohit and Virat shouldn’t have been picked for it. Secondly, the West Indies haven’t even certified for the World Cup. So it would not matter if Rohit and Virat play on this sequence or not. This sequence is irrelevant. So, the selectors ought to have thought of sending a younger group to see how the gamers deal with the strain of worldwide cricket. This was the right time to establish a younger captain too,” mentioned former India left-arm spinner Sunil Joshi.
“Rohit & Virat performed the primary ODI, did not play within the second match, and now, with the sequence on the road, they will clearly return for the series-decider. I do not get the purpose of all this,” he added.
Joshi, the truth is, feels that the selectors may’ve picked an skilled campaigner like Shikhar Dhawan for this sequence purely with a view to develop a back-up opener for the World Cup.
“Simply have a look at Dhawan’s numbers in white-ball cricket. He’ll at all times be an asset within the ODI format, particularly in India. His expertise and fabulous document within the ICC tournaments should not be ignored. Throughout my tenure with the nationwide choice committee, we might at all times again Dhawan as a back-up opener in white-ball cricket, and this why we requested him to guide the Indian group in 2021 in Sri Lanka too. To make sure that Dhawan will get into some respectable type forward of the World Cup, he ought to have been despatched for the ODI sequence,” felt Joshi.
“It occurred through the T20 World Cup in Australia final 12 months. When (Jasprit) Bumrah was out injured, we had been compelled to choose (Mohammed) Shami, purely due to the latter’s class and expertise. As a substitute of bringing again Dhawan on the last-minute in case you want him, it is higher to offer him some ODIs below his belt,” he beneficial.
It was additionally baffling to see that regardless of experimenting a lot with their batting line-up, the group administration did not check out opener Ruturaj Gaikwad, regardless of the batsman being a prolific run-getter within the Vijay Hazare One-dayers for Maharashtra. Picked for the Assessments too, Gaikwad hasn’t received a single sport on what has turned to be a tour which promised a lot however delivered little for him. “If you’re already making an attempt out so many gamers, who do not you give him an opportunity,” questioned Joshi.
The Indian group administration’s experimentation coverage has its backers too. Former India seamer and ex-national selector Harvinder Singh instructed this paper, “Should you do not experiment in opposition to this West Indies group now, you will not get the time to try this later, because the ODI World Cup is approaching quick. With this method, after this sequence, you will get readability about your pool of gamers for the World Cup. Should you see, somebody like Sanju Samson was despatched at No 3, which was such a very good alternative for him contemplating he would not get too many probabilities.
“Ishan Kishan has made use of the possibilities that he is received on this sequence, whereas Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav have a possibility to get among the many runs.”
