5 problems India must address before the 2019 World Cup

In the recently concluded three-match ODI series, England handed India their first bilateral series defeat in more than two and a half years. India had a run of 9 consecutive ODI series wins snapped. This 1-2 series loss was also Virat Kohli’s first bilateral ODI series loss as captain.

After winning the first game comprehensively, India were beaten by a rampaging England side who have been at the top of their game in ODI cricket in the last couple of years. Indian have also been playing some fantastic white-ball cricket. But for now, let’s concentrate on a few of their problems. With the 2019 World Cup less than a year away, they will need to address these problems.

So, what are the problems or questions India must address? Let’s have a look.

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#1 The No. 4 conundrum

KL Rahul was India's latest experiment at No. 4.

It’s peculiar that India haven't found a permanent No. 4 for the last three years, despite producing some quality batsmen over the last few years. Since the 2015 World Cup, India have tried 10 players at the No. 4 spot.

The likes of MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Ajinkya Rahane, Dinesh Karthik, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul and Manish Pandey have all batted at that two-down spot but none of them have cemented it and made it their own. Yes, it is true that only Rahane and Yuvraj have played consistently but even they have managed only 10 and 9 innings respectively at that slot.

KL Rahul was entrusted with the No. 4 responsibility for this ODI series against England. He batted in two innings where he amassed 9 not out in the first game and was out for a duck in the second before he was dropped for the series decider. Dinesh Karthik walked in at 4 in the third ODI and scored a fluent 21. Ajinkya Rahane was India’s No. 4 in the six-match ODI series in South Africa earlier this year where he scored 140 runs at an average of 35.00.

India have chopped and changed quite a lot and that No. 4 spot hasn’t seen a player get a long rope.

#2 Over-reliance on the top three

India have depended on the top three quite a lot.

Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli form one of the best top 3s in world cricket. They’ve won numerous games for the ‘Men in Blue’ and continue to deliver on a consistent basis even today. But what if they fail? India have found it tough when they are dismissed early which has exposed their middle-order woes.

India’s top three didn’t quite get the big scores in the last two ODIs against England and the middle-order failed to deal with the pressure. In run-chases, India haven’t won a game since the 2015 World Cup in which one of the top three hasn’t scored a half-century and that was the case in the second game. The middle order has got starts but hasn’t been able to convert.

There have been a few instances where the middle and the lower order has resurrected the innings but those have come whilst batting first. India need to address this over-reliance on the top three and the middle-order needs to start taking more responsibility and contributing big.

#3 Reserve pacers

This is one series that has exposed the Indian bowling attack. India went into the series without their two best bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Bumrah was ruled out of the series due to a thumb injury while Bhuvneshwar was struggling with a back problem.

India got to test their bench. Siddarth Kaul and Umesh Yadav got opportunities in the first two games and both of them were under-par. Both of them had economies of more than 6.5 and while Umesh picked up 3 wickets, Kaul went wicketless in both his outings. Shardul Thakur got a game in the final ODI and was the only Indian bowler to pick up a wicket.

Bhuvneshwar did play in the last ODI but looked rusty and ineffective. Hence, India missed their premier fast bowlers dearly, both in the powerplay and at the death. In every game, England got off to flying starts and needed to be pulled back. In fact, in the second ODI, despite having England at 240/6 after 42 overs, they allowed them to get away and get to 322.

India were dependent on their spinners to get the breakthroughs and control the game. But that might not happen every game.

India will need to manage the workloads of Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar carefully and they will hope that their two premier pacers are in full flow, come the World Cup.

#4 Who is the backup bowler?

Hardik Pandya has improved as a bowler but has the tendency of leaking a lot of runs

India have finally found a pace-bowling all-rounder in Hardik Pandya who lends balance to the team. He can bat anywhere in the order and has often been used as a floater. He can also contribute with the ball.

But he tends to have bad days. He can be erratic and wayward at times and that could hurt India. This is where India need a sixth bowling option. Kedar Jadhav was that option as he could chip in with a few overs when required. But in his absence, India went in with only 5 bowling options in the last three ODIs in South Africa.

When the squad was picked for the England ODIs, none of the batsmen could bowl before Suresh Raina was added as a replacement. So, what if Pandya or one of the main bowlers has a bad day? Whom do India fall back on? That’s where Virat Kohli and the team management need to decide and see who the best option is. India might not need that sixth bowler every game and the five bowlers might get the job done, but someone needs to be that bank who can provide at least 2-3 overs if not more.

#5 Who is the finisher?

CRICKET-ENG-IND-ODI

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been one of the best finisher’s in world cricket for a long time. But it is no secret that his finishing abilities are on the wane and he needs time to get himself going. But India have persisted with him at No. 6. Hardik Pandya has more often than not come in at No. 7. There’s no doubt that Pandya has the ability but hasn’t been consistent enough.

Suresh Raina didn’t have a great ODI series. Dinesh Karthik, who played the role of a finisher in the Nidahas Trophy and the subsequent IPL, hasn’t got a lot of opportunities. Jadhav has more or less been the No. 5/6 finisher for India but even he has lost his form and fitness and has found himself in rehab since April this year. Shreyas Iyer was tried at No. 5 in South Africa after Kedar Jadhav got injured.

Hence, with Raina struggling and Jadhav currently not in the scheme of things, India might well need to bat Dhoni at 5 and find a finisher at 6. Maybe they could give Karthik more opportunities. Yes, that would mean that India might not have a sixth bowling option but with the World Cup nearing, India need to solve the issues that are plaguing them.