KOLKATA: With the series in pocket, India will look for a clean sweep when they take on England in the third ODI here on Sunday. It will not be all fun and games, as this will be India’s last 50-over contest ahead of the Champions Trophy in June. Anil Kumble and Virat Kohli will have to assess the squad and back-up options.
The modern-day game stresses on the importance of flying starts. However, after two games, question marks remain over India’s opening combination. Shikhar Dhawan (1, 11) and KL Rahul (8, 5) have disappointed, with the middle-order rescuing the team both times. With Ajinkya Rahane and the young Rishabh Pant waiting in the wings, this might be their last chance to impress.
With the pressure winning off, this should be a good opportunity for these players to recapture form. “The pressure is off us as we have already won the series. But in international cricket, you want to win every match. This is the chance for everyone to go out and enjoy the occasion,” opening bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar said.
Eyebrows were raised when Yuvraj Singh was drafted into the team. Many were against the inclusion of MS Dhoni as well, after he relinquished captaincy. But the stalwarts rescued the team in the second game. Their 256-run association was the second-highest fourth wicket stand in history. “Two of the greats stood up, that is what the team management envisioned,” skipper Kohli had said of the Cuttack triumph.
Bhuvneshwar too praised the former skipper. “Dhoni is a keen observer of the game. He watches everything closely and contributes to the team’s cause on and off the field. His inputs and feedback helps us all,” the 26-year-old explained.
Both matches have seen aggregates of 700-plus with both sets of bowlers coming in for rough treatment. One of the silver linings for India will be the return to form of Ravichandran Ashwin, who managed to translate his Test form in ODIs as well picking up three wickets which all but sealed the deal.
With death bowling coming under the scanner, Men in Blue will be happy with the way the bowlers responded to the English onslaught in Cuttack. Bhuvneshwar was successful in bowling yorkers on a day the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya struggled to find the block hole. Asked whether the game has become more batsman-friendly, Bhuvnseshwar said, “We have become used to it. We know that 350 is par nowadays. That’s how we plan our practice and team meetings. It’s difficult because we are coming from the era when 250-300 was par.”
England, meanwhile, is back to the venue where they lost the World T20 final last year. Their record at Eden is not one to admire. The Three Lions have played three ODIs here and lost all. Eoin Morgan will be hoping for some redemption ahead of the T20 encounters.
ayantan@newindianexpress.com