India look for ‘fresh ODI template’ in 1,000th match

NT Correspondent

Rohit Sharma’s presence as the new leader, with a fresh template to arrest the familiar ‘middle-order muddle’, is exactly what the Indian team needs while ushering in a new era, which will begin with the ODI series against the West Indies, in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

After Ireland toppled West Indies 2-1 in the ODI series in the Caribbean, Kieron Pollard’s men rallied to beat England 3-2 in the T20I series that followed. They are looking in good form.

After a rude reality check against a weak South African side in the away series, India are now back in familiar settings with a new ODI captain in Rohit, who will team up with illustrious Rahul Dravid and strive to get India back to winning ways.

ack to winning ways. The series-opener is historic 1000th ODI for India, who would like to begin their preparations for the 2023 World Cup after failing to win the coveted trophy in 2015 and 2019, and the team will indeed look at a paradigm shift in strategy.

The ‘Rohit-Dravid’ duo over the course of the next few months will underline the ‘Men in Blue’s’ philosophy in the 50-over format after it became clear that some rejigging is needed as a part of course correction.

Thus, the series beginning Sunday would be the perfect platform to focus on setting their struggling middleorder right.

There isn’t much to seperate India and West Indies on the World Cup Super League points table as well. India have 49 points from nine games and West Indies have 50 points, although they’ve had the benefit of playing three more Super League ODIs.

With KL Rahul unavailable in the first game, and other specialist openers Shikhar Dhawan and Ruturaj Gaikwad both testing COVID-19 positive, it is in all likelihood that Mayank Agarwal, who was added to the squad, would open with Rohit.

Ishan will open with Rohit

India’s new full-time ODI captain Rohit Sharma on Saturday said that Ishan Kishan will open alongside him in the first ODI against West Indies. Rohit added that the wicketkeeperbatter is the only “available option” for second opener for the team as Mayank Agarwal is serving mandatory quarantine period. Along with Ishan, Shahrukh Khan has also been added to squad for first ODI.

We are trying to fi nd a fi nisher, haven’t really got one after MSD: Rohit

India captain Rohit Sharma said the team has not found a finisher since the international retirement of the peerless MS Dhoni and going into next year’s ODI World Cup, they are hoping to find one. Rohit was asked how he was looking at the finisher’s role -- especially the No 6 and 7 in batting order -- where he admitted that they need to create more back-ups other than Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja.

I will carry on from where Virat had left: Rohit

Under Virat Kohli, India had a more than 70 percent success rate in ODIs which means that he just needs to carry on the good work done by the former as a leader. “I mean, when Virat was captaining, I was the vicecaptain, so we pretty much went about the team in similar fashion. I just have to take it from where he (Virat) left,” Rohit said. “There is nothing that I need to come in and change something drastically,” he added.

Dodges questions on Test captaincy

“There is time for that (test captaincy), let us just focus on limited overs (series), which is in front of us,” Rohit said.