So, India
came into this match with an emphatic win under their belt thrashing the
Proteas in their tournament opener.But they were slated to play against the
mighty Aussies in their second game, which can never be taken for granted. With
Smith and Warner back into the side the Aussies are a formidable side once
again.
Virat won
the toss and elected to Bat first.India, understandably came into this match
with an unchanged team from the last game.Only doubtful starter in the Indian line-up
was Bhuvneshwar Kumar who was a bit off colour in the last game against
S.Africa but Virat showed confidence in his spearhead bowler and what a game he
had.
The Oval wicket was slow and low, both the
openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan made a cautious start. It was a big
game notwithstanding the preliminary phase of the tournament, so they took no
chances initially. Although Hit Man Rohit Sharma was lucky to be dropped by
Coulter-Nile early on in the innings of M.Starc. There was no swing whatsoever
on offer for the Aussie Pacers and they were found clueless and braced for a
big score by the Indian Batsman.
India sailed
cautiously for about 40 runs in first 10 overs and then 110 runs in 20 overs
without any loss of wicket. The stage was getting set for forthcoming batsmen
and Aussies dreaded the same as they knew India bats deep. Just then Rohit
nicked one to Wicket Keeper Carey of C-Nile .He scored 57 of 70 balls(3 fours
and 1 six) and India lost their first wicket at 127.Before
getting out Hit Man Rohit Sharma become 4th Batsman in the World
Cricket to hit 2000 runs against the Aussies.
170 runs in
30 overs for the loss of 1 wicket, India was set for something big and were
eyeing somewhere 350+ score at the end of 50 overs.Meanwhile, Shikhar Dhawan
for a change played cautiously and well within himself initially and ultimately
completed his century of 95 balls when Indian total was 188 for the loss of
just one wicket in 33rd Over.Dhawan and Virat had a solid close to
century partnership before Dhawan was finally caught in the deep by substitute
Nathan Lyon of Starc for 117 runs(16 fours),India 220 for the loss of 2 wickets
in 37th over . Dhawan became only the 2nd
Indian Batsman after Ajay Jadeja to score a
World Cup Century against Australia.
Meanwhile
Virat was going great guns on the other end.Hardik Pandaya came in after the
fall of Dhawan’s wicket. He was very lucky to be dropped first ball he faced of
C-Nile by Wicket Keeper Carey.The platform was set for promoted Pandaya to go berserk
as he did in the last game against the Africans. Before getting out of Cummins,
as expected he played a cameo of 48 of 27 balls (including 4 fours and 3 sixes)
and a substantial 81 runs partnership with Virat when India crossed the 300
mark in the 46th over.
In
the Meantime, Virat also achieved a personal milestone when he got to his 50th
ODI fifty of 55 balls.Dhoni came into bat after the fall of Pandaya’s
wicket and was accumulating runs fast as his nature but was caught and bowled
by Stoinis on 27 of 14 balls (3 fours and 1 six)who held a blinder in his
follow through in the 50th over of the Indian Innings. Stoinis also
cleaned up Indian Captain Kohli when he got him caught by Cummins when the
skipper was on 82 of 77 balls(4 fours and 2 sixes) in the final over.
The Aussies fielded well, but Indians managed a handsome
score of 352 for the loss of 5 wickets of their stipulated 50 overs.It was not
going to be easy to chase this score considering the pitch was getting slower
and lower and Indians had a good bowling
line up to defend the total.
The stage was set for the Aussie’s chase .Warner and
Finch came out to open for Australia .Warner got lucky immediately in the 2nd
over of the innings, as he got played on of Bumrah but as it happened on so
many occasions in the past too, the bails refused to drop down. Finch got run
out by Jadhav of Pandaya on 36.Warner on 56 was scalped by Chahal.
The asking rate was climbing up steadily for Aussies as
Smith(69) and Khwaja(42)tried to pull back the game from going into India’s lap.
The turning point came when Khwaja tried a vicious pedal sweep of Bumrah but found his timber dismantled. Bhuvneshwar
Kumar then removed both Smith and Stoinis in his one over thereby proving the
skipper’s decision to play him in the eleven, correct. Maxwell(28) and Carey(a
feisty 55*) tried to steady the sinking ship but could not stem the rising
asking rate. Eventually Maxwell perished to Chahal virtually sealing the fate
for the Aussies.
It was two in two for the Men in Blue at the end, as
India ended up on an inevitable winning note and stands tall with the Kiwis on
the points table ,who is the only other team with wins in all 3 of its outing.Aussies
fell short of 36 runs in the end.
My Analysis:
1. The Indians openers have found a
formula ultimately to score big runs by taking their time initially and seeing
off the main bowlers of the opposition thereby ensuring they don’t lose quick
wicket early on which lead to undue pressure on their middle order(considering
their arguably weak middle order is still to be tested in trying conditions)
2. It was very heartening to see Shikhar
Dhawan taking his time and playing well within himself rather than pushing at
the ball during the initial phase of his innings. It’s quite ok to play and
miss rather then play and get out. This also puts undue pressure on Rohit who
likes to take his time before going bonkers.Dhawan is too dangerous when he
gets his eye in as it is then when his bat does the talking. If he carries on
with this approach forward, India is in with a big chance of playing and scooping
up the Cup on 14th July.
3. Two in two for Rohit Sharma!! First a century then
a half century, that too against two formidable One Day sides. The Hit Man is
surely coming back into his own.
4. Virat Kohli got a very good knock of
82 and found himself amongst runs in the 2nd game itself. You can’t
keep a player like Kohli down for too long. Also a skipper among runs is always
a good sign for the team.
5. Pandaya again played a brilliant
cameo and is fast understanding what his team wants from him as he walks in
.The brilliant performances of the top three literally gives him the license to
go out and do what he does best- destroy the opposition.He and Rahul can be swapped
of their batting positions as per the need and situation of the game.Rahul a
better batsman when it comes to the technique, can grind it out at no 4 when
things are not going well for the team.
6. Dhoni at no.5 is the best thing
happening to India right now. The calm, composed and experienced Dhoni can change
his game as per the situation of the match and can take the team virtually to
the podium finish. Anyhow he is having the last shy at the coveted World Cup
Trophy and I’m sure he will give whatever he has.
7. Bhuvneshwar Kumar coming back
strongly is a tremendous sign for both him and the team.
8. Bumrah is hitting the purple patch of
his career, hope it stays with him for long.
9. The “Kulcha” combo of kuldeep and
chahal were a bit expensive but are fast learning to be impactful.
10. All in all, a brilliant all-round
performance by team Blue! They need to take this momentum forward and perform
the same way in future games.
11. For the Aussies, they lost the vital toss,
they fielded well but dropped couple of crucial catches when it mattered most.
Unfortunately the conditions didn’t helped their bowlers either.
12. Aussies spin department is quite weak
and on these slow and low English pitches, things will be difficult for them
from here on.
13. Aussies Batsmen are top class but
they were rendered useless with the ever rising required rate. Not every day
you can successfully chase 350+ target that too against a formidable all round
bowling attack like Indians.
Next up is
the game against the Kiwis who too are unbeaten till now in the tournament.
India needs to keep up the good work and stay clear of any complacency
whatsoever.
Will meet
you all after the next game.
Till
then….HAPPY READING!!!
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