This ODI series is about two things: how India’s top four are shaping up, and whether Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna have done enough to justify the omission of Mohammed Shami.
Coming to the batting first, anyone who watched Virat Kohli bat will agree that he is looking sublime. This is as good as he has ever been, and in his format of choice, he has never had issues with form. Unlike in Test cricket, where the second wave did not quite happen for Kohli, this is one format in which he has forever been king.
The moment he walked out, things looked different. The first five balls fetched eight runs, and at no point did he look uncomfortable. It was his presence that helped Shubman Gill as well. The skipper, who looked somewhat apprehensive in the first few balls, gradually grew in confidence and eventually ended up with a very important half-century.
Gill needed runs to ensure the mounting pressure did not become too difficult to handle. Questions have been asked about his lack of runs, and this half-century was a welcome innings in every sense. It may not have been his best, but it was certainly a valuable one in the context of his career.
Rohit Sharma, too, looked good, and the two sixes were evidence of his mindset. He did enough to allow Gill to play a few dot balls and settle in, and his dismissal was somewhat unfortunate. The shot was on, and nine times out of ten you would expect Rohit to clear the mid-off fielder with that inside-out effort.
Finally, to Shreyas Iyer. Yet again, an innings full of intent. The moment he stepped out to bat, there was a sense of urgency. Fluent in his shot-making, there was no rustiness of any sort in the Indian vice-captain. Between Kohli and Shreyas, the scoreboard kept moving, and there was never any asking-rate pressure on either.
In sum, India’s batting looks secure and poised. Kohli’s form is the cherry on top, and each of the other three did enough to make Gautam Gambhir smile.
Coming to the bowling, I’d still say the selectors should have tried Shami in this series to see what he has left in the tank. Take, for example, a Prasidh over to illustrate the point. He had already conceded a few runs in the over, and with the new batter, Kyle Jamieson, on strike, he pushed third man back and brought the mid-on fielder inside the circle.
The next ball was on Jamieson’s legs, and all he needed to do was place it past mid-on for four. Yes, Prasidh picked up two wickets, including that of Daryl Mitchell, but has he really looked convincing? Could Shami not have been given a chance remains the question.
Barring the Shami issue, everything else seems to be falling into place for India in the 50-over format. The balance looks good, and Mohammed Siraj, too, looked the part with his two wickets. While New Zealand aren’t at full strength, you don’t choose your opponents, as they say, and I wouldn’t be surprised if India close out yet another white-ball series in Rajkot on January 14.
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