India vs England 2017-17: 5 things India must improve before the second One Day International

The Indian Cricket team is on a rampage, and after having annihilated England in the Test series, they managed to pull off a heist in the first One Day International. On so many occasions, the team has managed to find one protagonist after another who have bailed the team out on many occasions.

In Kedar Jadhav, they found an unlikely hero in the first ODI, and he combined beautifully with Virat Kohli to pull India out of a deep hole. This was just another case of an Indian player putting his hand up when the situation got tough, and contributing to the team’s cause.

However, even after the remarkable chase, not all is hunky dory as far as the process is concerned, and Kohli would know there is plenty to improve before the next game.

Here in this list, we take 5 aspects which could be improved upon come the 2^nd ODI.

#5 Opening woes

The Indian team has been grappling with injuries ever since the Test series and thus the team has been hit big time with the injury to Rohit Sharma. The right-hander has emerged as one of the most prolific openers in world cricket, and his unavailability has certainly jolted the combination.

However, the opening combination of KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan should see this as an opportunity to put up their hands and rise to the occasion. India have been struggling to get off to a decent start and this has exposed the middle order to the new ball on many occasions. This is a big concern and it has to be looked into with immediate effect.

#4 Losing wickets in a heap

Yuvraj should be the rock in the middle order

The key to any batting effort has to be the ability to forge partnerships. This vital trait has been missing and had it not been for Virat Kohli’s brilliance and consistency, the Indian team would not be looking as solid.

Even in the previous match, they lost wickets in a cluster which on any other day would have spelt doom. However, they have Kohli in the form of his life who resurrected the slide, but a team cannot always rely on the individual brilliance of a man.

Hence, the onus lies with the other batsmen as to how they respond to pressure, as this area of concern cannot linger on for too long.

#3 Picking up wickets in the middle overs

R Ashwin holds the key during the middle overs

In the current scenario, the odds are heavily stacked against the bowling team, and thus it becomes paramount for the bowlers to keep picking up wickets right through the innings.

The inability to be penetrative in the middle overs, makes the going very tough for the fielding captain during the end overs, as the batsmen can run amock. Virat Kohli was a lost soul in the 1^st ODI during the final 10 overs, as the English batting leathered his bowlers in the slog overs.

Hence, it becomes all the more important to keep picking up wickets in the middle overs, so that towards the end of the innings, there are relatively fresh batsmen at the crease, which could make life that much easier for the bowlers and captain.

#2 Make the new ball count

Umesh Yadav should make the new ball count

During the Test series, the Indian seam bowling contingent held their own against the English batsmen and played a crucial role. The spinners got all the limelight, but the seamers did no harm to their cause.

However, during the 1^st ODI, the new ball pair of Umesh Yadav and Hardik Pandya did not pose enough questions and were tonked for plenty in the first 10 overs. With the England batting filled with stroke players who have the ability to put the pressure on the bowlers, it becomes all the more important for the seam bowlers to utilise the new ball to the best of their ability and set the tone for the rest of the match.

#1 Bowling at the death

Jasprit Bumrah is the key towards the end

One of the most used statements by MS Dhoni during hs tenure as the limited overs skipper was his admonition of Indian bowling towards the death. However, things stabilised in the recent past with the progress of Jasprit Bumrah, but then everything went awry in the 1^st ODI, and things looked bleak once again.

Bumrah was erratic and Umesh was nowhere near his best, and the England batsmen looted runs for fun. Kohli looked a hapless man, and was not impressed with this effort one bit. It could go down as an off day, but the Indian bowlers would now have to pull up their socks for the rest of the series.