New Zealand v India 2014: 5 players who India will need to perform

Yesterday, we looked at 5 of New Zealand’s biggest trump cards for the upcoming series against India. But Brendon McCullum and co. will not have an easy time against the number one ODI side in the world. Although India had a disappointing ODI series against South Africa, the Test series that followed was much better in terms of performance, and India have reasons to feel optimistic about the ODI series that lies ahead.

But, for that to happen, India will need their big players to perform. Here is a look at 5 players whom India will most rely on in the upcoming ODI series.

1. Mahendra Singh Dhoni – The Leader

Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Captain. Leader. And now very close to legendary status. Dhoni is the complete package as far as ODI batting is concerned. Dhoni’s intelligence while building an ODI innings is his biggest strength. He backs himself, and keeps biding his time till the end before launching a flurry of big hits.

Apart from his batting, Dhoni’s wicket-keeping is a very underestimated facet of his game. Dhoni seldom drops a catch or misses a stumping, and is not frightened to stand up to the medium pacers as well. Add to this, the fact that he is captain, and there is the complete package. India will need Dhoni to be at his best to marshal the middle order.

2. Virat Kohli – The King

Virat Kohli

Arguably, the best ODI batsman in the world in recent times. Kohli’s hunger for hundreds is undoubted. In recent memory, in the series against Australia, what stood out was Kohli’s calmness in big run chases and his ability to score runs at the rate of knots. Kohli has made the no.3 slot in ODIs his own, and in the series against West Indies, equalled Sir Viv Richards’s record as the fastest man to 5000 ODI runs.

Kohli’s fielding is also a huge asset. With India not having the strongest bowling side, inspirational moments in the field would be most welcome and Kohli has the ability to provide these.

3. Ravindra jadeja – The Ace

Ravindra Jadeja

In 2013, Jadeja developed into Dhoni’s most trusted weapon in all forms of the game. With the ball, Jadeja is an unflaggingly accurate bowler, and he finished 2013 as joint 2nd highest wicket taker with 52 wickets in the calendar year. With R Ashwin not being in the best of form, much of the burden of keeping the runs down in the middle overs will fall on Jadeja.

Like Kohli, Jadeja is also brilliant in the field, and has affected many a run-out thanks to his bullet left arm. Only if he can become more consistent with his batting, he has the ability to go down as one of India’s greatest ever ODI Cricketers.

4. Mohammad Shami – The Speed Gun

Mohammad Shami

Arguably, India’s most improved cricketer of 2013, Shami has been terrific with ball in hand, be it in ODI cricket or in Tests. Shami has the ability to move the ball both ways, and in South Africa, troubled the batsmen with extra bounce. The conditions in New Zealand will suit Shami, with the ball mostly moving around in the air, and off the pitch as well. If Shami can get into his groove and hit the right areas, then the New Zealand batsmen are in for a tough time.

5. Shikhar Dhawan – The Launcher

Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan has, on many an occasion in 2013, given India flying starts, along with Rohit Sharma. Dhawan had a fantastic 2013, till the tour of South Africa, where he was probably the biggest disappointment, after having promised so much. But Dhawan like he has always been, will not be flustered, and will go in the tour of New Zealand looking to perform as well as he showed he can, in 2013.