Strike drive: Siraj and Bumrah have mixed properly to deal well timed blows.
| Photo Credit: DEEPAK KR
Traversing India’s geographical range is inevitable for the Men in Blue whereas they chase World Cup glory. Be it the humid Coromandel Coast, northern hinterland, Gujarat’s dusty plains or now the leap throughout the Western Ghats simply in time for Thursday’s conflict in opposition to Bangladesh right here at the MCA Stadium near the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, Rohit Sharma’s males have been busy travellers.
In the weeks ahead extra air miles await as the host is certain to go away footprints far and large, be it the Himalayas, Gangetic Plains, the coasts (west and east) and the Deccan Plateau. Hopefully, the ultimate vacation spot might be Ahmedabad, the venue for the summit conflict on November 19. But it is a milestone that may be a month away and the Indian group would fairly ‘focus on the process’.
Three emphatic wins over Australia, Afghanistan and Pakistan has left India in a great area. The margin of triumphs, all secured whereas chasing — by six wickets, eight wickets and 7 wickets — reveal a high and middle-order which have delivered regardless of the ghastly two for three in that preliminary section in opposition to the Aussies.
The return of Shubman Gill augurs properly whereas the previous guard of skipper Rohit and his predecessor Virat Kohli have clicked. Ok.L. Rahul and Shreyas Iyer too have been amongst the runs.
Tougher battles on the road ahead appear unavoidable however the batting is in good nick and the bowlers, led by Jasprit Bumrah, have delivered. Mohammed Siraj, after a middling outing in opposition to Afghanistan, belatedly discovered his rhythm in opposition to Pakistan. As a bowling unit, India has managed the center overs, its batting core has sparkled and the fielding has been enough and environment friendly, and all these represent a recipe for success.
But there could possibly be some susceptible spots. India’s batting has not been absolutely examined. Hardik Pandya acquired one hit, whereas the relaxation, from Ravindra Jadeja to the tail, are but to stride in direction of the batting crease. In cricketing utopia, particularly in ODIs, it is greatest if simply the most important batters do the job.
However, actuality may spring a nasty shock as it did throughout the 2019 World Cup semifinal in opposition to New Zealand at Manchester. Rohit, Rahul and Virat scored a solitary run every and regardless of the resistance decrease down the order from Hardik, M.S. Dhoni and Jadeja, India misplaced the recreation by 19 runs.
In the present version, India does have a weak tail, a actuality that the administration is making an attempt to masks by fielding three all-rounders in the eleven: Hardik, Jadeja and Shardul Thakur. The odd inquisition could occur however the squad exudes a quiet confidence, evident in the scintillating efficiency on the area and from the completely happy behind-the-scenes movies that the administration posts on social media.
Living in the current, quelling one opponent at a time and being prepared if and when a match disaster pops up stay the key, apart from staying match, each bodily and mentally. The coming days, be it in Pune or in Dharamshala, ought to provide additional hints about India’s progress into the final 4.