India need to change batting approach in series decider

Manchester: Jolted by a thumping defeat in its last game, the Indian team is expected to tweak its batting template from cautious to a more fearless one in the series-deciding third ODI against England here on Sunday. The team under Rohit Sharma did put up an ultra-aggressive batting show with a great degree of success during the recently concluded T20 International series but the manner in which it chased a below-par target of 247 in the second ODI has left a lot to be desired.

Rohit would put his hand up and admit that he and other veteran Shikhar Dhawan, were a bit on the defensive in the wake of some fine swing and seam bowling from Reece Topley and David Willey. Therefore a change in approach is required and for that a paradigm shift in the mindset while going for the tricky run-chases unlike the first game at the Oval where the game was singlehandedly won by Jasprit Bumrah’s sixwicket haul.

The approach of going for leather from the word “go” worked wonderfully in T20 Internationals and there is no reason that it can’t work in the 50-over format which many teams see as an extension of two T20 innings.

Dhawan, Kohli and concerns in ODI

But India won’t mind as long as these formidable men are being kept under tight leash but the visitors would have to alter their playbook. And it will be a challenge in a morning ODI at the Old Trafford where the ball moves appreciably and India have their 2019 World Cup semi-final defeat in mind at this venue.

Rohit’s approach in most of the games isn’t a problem but Indian team management led by head coach Rahul Dravid will have its own set of issues if 37-year-old Dhawan is their choice going into next year’s 2023 ODI World Cup.

The left-hander apart from Rohit and Kohli, has been the most prolific scorer, partly because he opens the batting but also because two supremely talented players in their prime in the last decade gave him a chance to play his natural game. But with volume of bilateral ODIs shrinking considerably (most teams play three-match series) and Dhawan playing only one format, he is always having these forced breaks, which is certainly affecting his rhythm.

Jadeja’s ever-changing role

As far as India’s bowling attack is concerned, it has performed as per expectations in at least four of the five white-ball games so far. Bumrah has hit the straps and Mohammed Shami more often than not produces those unplayable wicket-taking deliveries.

Yuzvendra Chahal has altered his technique as he is bowling a tad slower and letting the ball hang in the air to create deception. Prasidh Krishna with his ability to get bounce even from length, will only get better and Hardik Pandya’s bowling rhythm has certainly brought smiles back in the Indian camp.

The only worrying aspect will be Ravindra Jadeja’s sharp decline as a potent left-arm spinner, which probably has gone unnoticed and papered over by impressive performance by the others.