India eye to keep series alive
28 Jan 2014 5:38 AM IST
The series stands at 2-0 in favour of New Zealand after India lost the first two ODIs in Napier (by 24 runs) and Hamilton (by 15 runs), while the third ODI at Auckland finished in a scintillating last-ball tie on Saturday.
Even though India cannot win the series anymore, the visitors at least can level the rubber and keep their world number one ranking intact, but for that to happen they need to win Tuesday’s match at Seddon Park as well as the fifth ODI at Wellington.
India’s bowling in favourable New Zealand conditions has been a big let down for the team, but the fighting spirit and resilience of Indian batsmen took the first two ODIs close and tied the third to keep the series alive.
India, however, can take heart from its performance in the third ODI. Chasing an imposing 315, Ravindra Jadeja nearly pulled off a sensational win before the contest ended in a tie.
Jadeja smacked the Kiwi bowlers to all parts of the ground to scored an unbeaten 45-ball 66 to take India close in the third ODI from a no-hope position. He was ably supported by Ravichandran Ashwin who scored a quickfire 65 off 46 balls. Interestingly, one of the key features of this series so far has been the fact that India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has won the toss and opted to chase in all three previous games.
It is a practice that runs long back. In South Africa, Dhoni won the toss in the first two ODIs at Johannesburg and Durban, and elected to chase, thereafter losing both matches.
At home prior, in two ODIs versus Australia (Ranchi and Nagpur) and one against West Indies (Kanpur), Dhoni did the same.
The last time India batted first after winning the toss was in January 2013, against England at Kochi. In 18 ODIs since then, home or away, the Men in Blue have always preferred to chase down targets after winning the toss.
The last time India batted first abroad, after winning the toss, was against Sri Lanka at Pallekele, all the way back in August 2012. It seems the Indian think-tank believes that the pressure of a run-chase is more bearable which was clearly evident from vice-captain Virat Kohli’s statement after the first ODI at Napier.
‘Chasing allows breaking down of targets and calculations over a period of time and overs,’ Kohli had said then. There is evidence to support this theory. If that January 2011 date is taken as a marker, then until the tied ODI at Auckland, India have played 30 ODIs (across all venues) in which they have opted to field first after winning the toss and earned victorious in 18 (one no-result) of these matches.
Even though India cannot win the series anymore, the visitors at least can level the rubber and keep their world number one ranking intact, but for that to happen they need to win Tuesday’s match at Seddon Park as well as the fifth ODI at Wellington.
India’s bowling in favourable New Zealand conditions has been a big let down for the team, but the fighting spirit and resilience of Indian batsmen took the first two ODIs close and tied the third to keep the series alive.
India, however, can take heart from its performance in the third ODI. Chasing an imposing 315, Ravindra Jadeja nearly pulled off a sensational win before the contest ended in a tie.
Jadeja smacked the Kiwi bowlers to all parts of the ground to scored an unbeaten 45-ball 66 to take India close in the third ODI from a no-hope position. He was ably supported by Ravichandran Ashwin who scored a quickfire 65 off 46 balls. Interestingly, one of the key features of this series so far has been the fact that India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has won the toss and opted to chase in all three previous games.
It is a practice that runs long back. In South Africa, Dhoni won the toss in the first two ODIs at Johannesburg and Durban, and elected to chase, thereafter losing both matches.
At home prior, in two ODIs versus Australia (Ranchi and Nagpur) and one against West Indies (Kanpur), Dhoni did the same.
The last time India batted first after winning the toss was in January 2013, against England at Kochi. In 18 ODIs since then, home or away, the Men in Blue have always preferred to chase down targets after winning the toss.
The last time India batted first abroad, after winning the toss, was against Sri Lanka at Pallekele, all the way back in August 2012. It seems the Indian think-tank believes that the pressure of a run-chase is more bearable which was clearly evident from vice-captain Virat Kohli’s statement after the first ODI at Napier.
‘Chasing allows breaking down of targets and calculations over a period of time and overs,’ Kohli had said then. There is evidence to support this theory. If that January 2011 date is taken as a marker, then until the tied ODI at Auckland, India have played 30 ODIs (across all venues) in which they have opted to field first after winning the toss and earned victorious in 18 (one no-result) of these matches.
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