India to open with Rohit-KL Rahul, Shankar in for spot 4 as rain looms large
The supreme factor in this Match No 3 for India is not Boult's magnum opus or the fiery Shikhar Dhawan’s injury lay over. It is weather and forecast is that there will be rain at least till the noon after which conditions will start drying up.
The met office here being accurate 99 times out of 100, most probably it will be a truncated match, possibly being reduced to 30 or so overs an innings which, in turn, needs different strategies, changed mindsets and a game plan that can stand the fast and furious format this 50-over match may turn into.
The rain has been so intense and unreasonable in these past couple of days that the Notts feel Moses is on his way which means a biblical performance in the middle too if, at all, there is a rain halt and the outfield responds to the super-soppers as never before. That said, the Trent Bridge cricket ground is known for its excellent drainage system and has soaked in more than other grounds have the bargain for.
But all this changes nothing for Team India which practised at the cricket ground on match eve, Dhawan being part of the spectators. Fielding queries around Dhawan’s absence and the weather conditions, team coach Sanjay Bangar said, “every match is challenging. All teams are well prepared and know each other's strengths and weaknesses, so nothing changes for us. Our preparation and approach take each team in view.”
India infamously lost their practice match to New Zealand the other day at The Oval with Boult and Jimmy Neesham tearing into the Indian defence with alacrity, ease and seven wickets. But practice is different from real time where India will be in the middle after two big wins, one against the South Africans on a difficult pitch and the other against none short of the defending champions Australia. Both were well fought and strategized victories where the bowlers did as well as the batsmen.
Though Australia was taken largely on the blade of Shikhar Dhawan, not to mention the seasoned arm department, the opener who will be sorely missed for the next three or four matches as he sits out to mend his left-hand fracture, is second only to a good back-up plan. “KL (Rahul) moves up to the top of the order with Vijay Shankar and other options in place for the No 4 slot,” Bangar told journalists on match eve.
The rejig at the top has talk of an unsettled Rohit Sharma but KL Rahul has been in the good books of fearless performances as an opener and him debuting in this World Cup would give some serious thinking power to his bat. Add to that the fact that “from our batting point of view all the six batsmen have gone out in the middle, except Kedar. Hardik and Mahi have also got game time,” and you have a relief in sight.
Bangar’s optimism is well founded. It should be taken into account that India performed equally well against South Africa when Dhawan did not fire into the scoreboard at all.
Also, as Bangar says, shifting up and down the order has its positives. “The advantage of playing in various spots is that you understand the game much better. If a player is able to do that, like Rahul Dravid did, it always helps the team big time as also the player himself. It is a mental adjustment for which the player requires a lot of skill,” he said, leaving it unsaid that KL is the man with that asset.
New Zealand though is a tricky opponent, trickier than the rest India has faced so far. The Black Caps have won all their three matches so far, limiting Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan to a less than 250 total.
Add to that paceman Tim Southee and batter Henry Nicholls returning to optimum fitness and skipper Kohli, otherwise sorted himself in all departments, will have a tough opening to close. India have the wherewithal, the intent and the expertise to tide over multifarious opponents. But do they have the weather on their side?
Hope Moses comes and goes on match eve and leaves Thursday for sunshine and some good winning strokes by India — before it is over to Manchester, Pakistan and a blockbuster everyone is waiting for.
Squads
India: Virat Kohli (c), Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, MS Dhoni (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul, Mohammed Shami, Vijay Shankar, Rohit Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav
New Zealand: Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wk), Tom Blundell, Mitchell Santner, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Colin Munro, Ish Sodhi, Henry Nicholls, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Jimmy Neesham
