NEW DELHI: The side first to play 900 ODIs is expected to know a thing or two about team building. Other than the 2007 World Cup, India have been one of the best 50-over outfits since the turn of the century. Despite changes in personnel, they have more often than not found the winning formula in this format. After Sri Lanka towards the end of the previous century, Indians have made it a batsman’s game, packing the line-up with power-hitters as well as accumulators.
Despite struggling in the run-up to the 2015 World Cup Down Under, India made it to the semifinals before losing to the eventual champions. The record hasn’t been great since as they have lost nine of the next 20 ODIs, with series defeats against Bangladesh, South Africa and Australia. The list of wins includes six against Zimbabwe. These are significant numbers for a side hoping to move up from fourth in ODI rankings.
This is strangely in complete contrast to the Test team, because the core of the two teams is not very different and several players were ODI regulars before graduating to whites. Perhaps, the dip in this format leaves coach Anil Kumble with a task similar to the one he had handled as Test skipper in 2007, by starting India’s journey towards the No 1 ranking in Tests.
Kumble finds himself in a territory where the ODI team needs to bring in a new blueprint for success. The squad for the New Zealand indicates the team is trying to find out what works best. Shuffling has been a regular feature, but the right combination is still to be found. There is no clarity over the No 4 spot, where Manish Pandey has a chance to establish himself. Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu even Virat Kohli have been tried out in that position.
As India face New Zealand in the second ODI at Feroz Shah Kotla on Thursday, batting is once again the talking point. “In one-day cricket it is not necessary that you need to have certain positions fixed as far as batting goes. It all depends on the situation. You could see someone else walking in at No 4 if we are chasing. But Manish has shown a lot of promise and performance. It’s heartening and his domestic experience gives him the advantage of knowing what to do in different situations,” Kumble said.
For someone who has performed consistently at the Test level in different conditions, Rahane’s place in the 50-over format has always been a subject of debate and discussion. Despite having good returns as opener in IPL, he was slotted at No 4 in ODIs, a position allotted normally to players who can bat with a lot of freedom. But Shikhar Dhawan’s injury has opened a new window for Rahane as Kumble revealed he is now part of the team’s plans for the opening slots. It could do India good considering Rahane is technically better equipped than the left-hander in conditions where the new ball moves around.
“At the moment, I think Rahane certainly fits in at the top of the order and that’s something that we will persist with. Yes, it does give us an option once Shikhar (Dhawan) and (KL) Rahul are fit. But we will only look at that probably post the England Test series, when England come for one-dayers. Looking at the Champions Trophy, and deciding who will be our opening combination and who will bat 4, 5 and so on, I think will come in much later,” Kumble said.
venkatakrishna@newindianexpress.com