Dhoni will have a lot to ponder about when the teams clash in the second one-dayer
Mahendra Singh Dhoni (in picture) and boys will take on Bangladesh for three ODIs in June; Virat Kohli will lead in a one-off Test. (Photo: AP)
New Delhi: The equation has changed dramatically. Until about 72 hours ago, the West Indies squad were mulling their participation in the five-match one-day series against India, there was even talk of a strike over a pay dispute with the national board. Not to forget the absence of destructive opener Chris Gayle (back injury) and spinner Sunil Narine (suspect action), key members of this very unpredictable, yet talented side.
On the field though, it was all business for the Caribbean side, who walloped the hosts by 124 runs for a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni will have a lot to ponder about when the teams clash in the second one-dayer at the Kotla here on Saturday.
In what is the final one-day series at home for India ahead of the 2015 World Cup and a chance to gauge the right mix of players, it is perhaps time for self-assessment.
A sub-continental tour is never easy for any visiting team given Dhoni’s men dominance at home and spin-friendly tracks but the West Indies seem to have done their homework. In fact, it were the visitors who scored a point in the spin department in the tour opener.
Of the 321 runs that India conceded at Kochi, 144 off those came off spinners in 22 overs. In contrast, Sulieman Benn who replaced the wily Narine had miserly figures of 5-0-16-0.
The line-up of Dwayne Smith, Dwayne Bravo, Darren Bravo, Keiron Pollard and Darren Sammy are all adept in Indian conditions, having reguarly played in the Indian Premier League, while Marlon Samuels’ return to ODIs after a seven-month gap was a delight. The Jamaican smashed an unbeaten 126 in the Kochi one-dayer.
For India, who are looking to finalise on an opening pair through this series, the Ajinkya Rahane-Shikhar Dhawan combo offers hope. Virat Kohli’s woeful form though continues to be a huge worry, and the Delhi boy will want to come good on his home ground on the morrow.
For the hosts, it will be important to keep things simple and play to their strengths. Despite the turnaround in the opener, India have enough in their arsenal to strike back in the remainder of the series.
India will bank of Suresh Raina and Ambati Rayudu besides the opening combo, while a clinical finisher in skipper Dhoni remains their strong point.
( Source : dc )
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