Do or die for Dhoni & Co
10:00AM Fri 28 Dec, 2012
[caption id="attachment_18830" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Indian players MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina during a practice session at Motera in Ahmedabad on Thursday. PTI[/caption]
hmedabad: A look at the Indian team combination in the last three T20 internationals suggests that the team management has constantly tinkered with the bowling attack. While one may be tempted to say the Indian set-up is following the famous rotation policy once adopted by Australia, the frequent change has been due to desperation to find the right balance. With substandard fielding, under-performing spinners, inconsistent middle-order and heavy reliance on part-timers, Indian captain MS Dhoni’s cup of woes have spilled over.
Eoin Morgan’s last ball six dashed India’s hopes of clinching the T20 series against England and after being 0-1 down in the two match series against arch-rivals Pakistan, India face the ignominy of losing the T20 series.
India will need to find the right eleven in the must win encounter here at the Sardar Patel Gujarat Stadium in Motera. Despite getting a flourishing start, both in bowling and batting department, the home team allowed the Mohammad Hafeez-led team to stage a comeback. The home team lacked bite in the death overs to end up on the losing side on both occasions.
India’s premier spinner R. Ashwin was excluded in the first match and Pakistan capitalised and planned their chase strategically. With the track here being on the slower side and offering turn, India will have to relook their spin department that has failed to impress. Though dew was also a factor in Ashwin’s omission for the Bangalore tie, the early start (5:00 pm) here will negate that factor forcing Dhoni to make a tough decision. It will be an interesting toss-up between leg spinner Piyush Chawla, who has been erratic and Ashwin, who has picked up one wicket in two games.
The home team will need the talented middle-order to step up and deliver under pressure. After being wicketless in the first 10 overs, India lost nine wickets in the next ten to end up with a moderate 133/9.
Motera has traditionally been a favourite ground for Yuvraj Singh and the swashbuckling batsman will look to repeat his match-winning performance (57 off 44) in the World Cup quarterfinals against Australia and a gritty 74 in the first Test versus England here last month.
Source: Deccan Chronicle
Indian players MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina during a practice session at Motera in Ahmedabad on Thursday. PTI[/caption]
hmedabad: A look at the Indian team combination in the last three T20 internationals suggests that the team management has constantly tinkered with the bowling attack. While one may be tempted to say the Indian set-up is following the famous rotation policy once adopted by Australia, the frequent change has been due to desperation to find the right balance. With substandard fielding, under-performing spinners, inconsistent middle-order and heavy reliance on part-timers, Indian captain MS Dhoni’s cup of woes have spilled over.
Eoin Morgan’s last ball six dashed India’s hopes of clinching the T20 series against England and after being 0-1 down in the two match series against arch-rivals Pakistan, India face the ignominy of losing the T20 series.
India will need to find the right eleven in the must win encounter here at the Sardar Patel Gujarat Stadium in Motera. Despite getting a flourishing start, both in bowling and batting department, the home team allowed the Mohammad Hafeez-led team to stage a comeback. The home team lacked bite in the death overs to end up on the losing side on both occasions.
India’s premier spinner R. Ashwin was excluded in the first match and Pakistan capitalised and planned their chase strategically. With the track here being on the slower side and offering turn, India will have to relook their spin department that has failed to impress. Though dew was also a factor in Ashwin’s omission for the Bangalore tie, the early start (5:00 pm) here will negate that factor forcing Dhoni to make a tough decision. It will be an interesting toss-up between leg spinner Piyush Chawla, who has been erratic and Ashwin, who has picked up one wicket in two games.
The home team will need the talented middle-order to step up and deliver under pressure. After being wicketless in the first 10 overs, India lost nine wickets in the next ten to end up with a moderate 133/9.
Motera has traditionally been a favourite ground for Yuvraj Singh and the swashbuckling batsman will look to repeat his match-winning performance (57 off 44) in the World Cup quarterfinals against Australia and a gritty 74 in the first Test versus England here last month.
Source: Deccan Chronicle
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