Windfalls from the dead-rubber: 5 lessons learned from the Feroz Shah Kotla encounter

Champions finally awakening now?

In many ways Team India’s current performance is one of the most disheartening experiences I’ve ever had as a cricket fan. I joined everyone else, a couple of years ago, in exulting Team India’s triumph in the World cup 2011, which brought home the much coveted World cup for a second time, after a protracted wait of 28 years. Team India, at that time, had already been the reigning number one in the ICC Test rankings for one full year. I, like most in my generation, was excited to see what new heights this team – the best Indian team we ever laid eyes on since we started watching cricket – could scale. Instead, what followed could only be described by words like landslide, catastrophe and disaster.

When India was routed by England and Australia in the Test series, I tried to rationalize by saying to myself that it was of too much of home advantage for the English and the Aussies. But in a corner of my mind – no matter how hard I tried to put it away – the painful realization that a whitewash was a little too much, persisted. After the close finish exits from the tri-series in Australia and the Asia Cup, I consoled myself calling it bad luck. But it wasn’t long really, before I had to confront what I’ve been desperately trying to bury – “There is something wrong with Team India”. Series losses against England and Pakistan, at home – considered the impregnable fortress of India – threw us headlong into the pit of despair that we find ourselves in now.

But this is not the real cause of despair that looms over every Indian cricket fan today. Sure, ending up on the losing side in a succession of matches hurts. But it’s nowhere near how much it hurts realizing that we’re going to end up on the losing side even before the match starts. Team India’s spirited comeback at Kotla, after yet another shabby performance with the bat, might just be the panacea that Indian cricket needs now. And this was exactly why the so called dead-rubber of a third match between India and Pakistan, was not so “dead” for a hardcore fan of Indian cricket like me. Going into the all-important series against England, a morale-boosting win is not the only positive that came out of it. Here are a few rays of hope from the third ODI which might potentially become the rungs of the ladder that could bring us out of this abyss.

1. India was never considered a bowling-heavy side to begin with. Indian bowling attack, traditionally has always been spearheaded by spinners with support from the seamers. It was therefore a pleasant surprise to see two youngsters (B Kumar and Shami Ahmed) seemingly coming out of nowhere, donning the Indian jersey and making the ball dance to their tune at 130-odd kmph. Kumar, right from his debut, has showcased some spectacular swing bowling, and has got an absolute peach of an in-swinger. With the debutant Shami’s display of levelheadedness in a superb spell at death, under pressure and Ishant finally showing signs of translating his promise into substance with some super-tight bowling, the Indian pace attack will be something to watch out for.

2. While the earlier two matches were fraught with misfields, dropped catches and lethargy in the field, the last game featured some uninhibited diving and blinding saves, creating chances. It was undoubtedly the electric fielding that galvanized the side to put up a spirited resistance after cheaply folding for 167. Where, in the course of their disheartening defeats, they lost their spirit I cannot guess, but as an Indian fan I’m extremely glad that they found it in the second half at Kotla. If the Indian team manages to carry over the same grit into the England series, it should be an absolute treat to watch.

3. The most marked feature of the series, however, has been the procession to pavilion that the Indian top order has become when pitted against high quality swing bowling. Collapse of the top order very early in the innings, with fewer than 100 runs on board has put the lower middle order under extreme pressure throughout the series. Although the top order stuck to the same script in the third ODI, the middle order showed signs of revival. Before he got out to a ripper from Hafeez, Yuvraj was looking in sublime touch; Raina has made some starts throughout the series, though he got out at key junctures; The Indian skipper, MS Dhoni, continued to be the hinge that held the Indian innings together. With the addition of Pujara, Indian batting should gain some much needed stability and should be able to give their bowlers respectable totals to work with.

The much-maligned Ravindra Jadeja – a genuine all-rounder?

4. ICC’s recent modifications to the field restriction rule effectively means one additional fielder within the thirty yards circle at all times. While this rule means that part-timers can get thrashed around the park if they falter in their line and length, it also prompts more thought around the positioning of close infield. The Indian skipper quickly coming to terms with this change, quite successfully marshalled his infielders to contain and build-up pressure. There were some inspired and creative field placements, like deployment of the now almost obsolete leg-slip, which led to wickets at critical junctures. It would be really interesting to see how the ever-crafty Dhoni puts this extra infielder to use in the England series.

5. I never could quite accept Ravindra Jadeja as an all-rounder simply because of the reason that he gives away more number of runs than what he gets, in less than as many deliveries as he takes to get them in. Jadeja with his quick-fire (considering the run-rate of the match!) 27, followed by a beautiful spell on an assisting track giving away only 19 runs in his 10 overs with Umar Akmal’s wicket, sure showed me how valuable he can be. He also lifted the side’s spirits with some brilliant efforts in the field, saving at least a couple of certain boundaries. Jadeja made a good show with the ball even in the second ODI. If he continues this form in the England series, we might soon have a genuine all-rounder to boast of.

Although Team India might still look a pretty rickety side, their fans have a lot to look forward to the upcoming England series, as this might be the perfect opportunity for them to gain some much needed stability and solidity.