5 Aspects India needs to address ahead of the 3rd ODI

5 Aspects India needs to address ahead of the 3rd ODI: The Indian team produced an unlikely win over South Africa in the 2nd ODI at Indore. The team had defended a modest total of score of 247. This was least expected after they lost 2 T20I matches and 1st ODI in the ongoing Freedom series. There are some issues that India needs to review and resolve before the 3^rd ODI at Rajkot tomorrow.

Here we look at the 5 Aspects India needs to address ahead of the 3rd ODI:

1. Top order failure:

The top order batsmen need to perform consistently to help India get some big scores. Though in the first ODI Rohit Sharma played a great knock of 150 and almost won the match single handed, in the 2nd match at Indore, he was clean bowled for just 3 by Rabada in the second over of the match. Dhawan played some cracking shots to boundaries but was not able convert into big score as he was dismissed by Morne Morkel caught by Duminy for 23 in 13^th over. If India needs to win the 3^rd ODI the top 2 batsmen must give a solid foundation for the other batsmen to build upon.

2. Middle order batting:

Virat Kohli-

Virat Kohli’s form is a great cause of concern for India. He has not scored a fifty plus score since the last 12 innings. He came at number 4 in the previous match against South Africa when the score was 59 for 2 after the departure of Shikhar Dhawan. Before he could settle he was run-out. It is high time that Kohli comes back to form in the 3^rd ODI at Rajkot if India has to continue the winning momentum.

Suresh Raina–

Suresh Raina’s form in the ODI series against South Africa has also been poor. In the 2^nd match at Indore, Raina came in 23^rd over of the innings, with India at 102 for 4. He played 6 balls and did not score a single run. Morne Morkel bowled a bouncer which took his gloves and he was caught by the keeper. Raina needs to play attacking cricket and put pressure on the South African bowler. In the 1st ODI at Kanpur too Suresh Raina was dismissed playing a big stroke and was caught for 3.

3. An additional spinner:

In the previous match at Indore the Indian skipper MS Dhoni opted to play 3 fast bowlers, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav and Mohit Sharma. MS Dhoni played Axar Patel instead of Amit Mishra and Harbhjan Singh played as the second spinner. Axar was the best of Indian bowlers who picked 3 wickets for 39 runs while Harbhajan picked 2 wickets for 52. Amit Mishra had picked up 2 wickets for 47 runs in the 1st ODI at Kanpur. He has great variations and ability to deceive the best batsmen in the world like he did to Hashim Amla and David Miller. He can also be played in place of Umesh Yadav.

4. Pace Bowling:

In the pace bowling department Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked 3 wickets for 41 runs in 8.4 over’s while Mohit Sharma also bowled reasonably well picking 1 wicket for 21 runs in 5 over’s. Umesh Yadav was the most expensive bowler giving 52 runs in 8 over’s with just a wicket. In the 3^rd ODI the team might well bring in Amit Mishra in place of Umesh Yadav.

5. MS Dhoni to bat higher up:

Dhoni’s batting was under criticism calling him to bat up the order, in order to face more balls and play a crucial role. In the 1st ODI at Kanpur the captain was not able to score 11 runs required to win off the last over bowled by Rabada. In the second match at Indore, Dhoni came to bat when India was struggling at 82 for 3 and then collapsed to 124 for 6. He batted with the tail, and injected 143 runs to the total in trademark style by seeing off the dangerous bowlers, he waited for the bad balls and then push on for late flourish.

He hit a big six of Duminy’s bowling to reach his 50 in 57 balls. In the 43^rd over Dhoni and Harbhajan took 17 runs off Duminy. He ran hard between wickets to convert singles into two runs and going across to steal singles. In 45^thover Dhoni’s hit Imran Tahir for a six and four to help India go past 200. Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh put on a 56 runs partnership for 8^th wicket. Dhoni ended the innings with a six and remained not out on 92 off 86 balls with 7 fours and 4 sixes. India ended the innings with respectable total of 247 for 9 in 50 over’s. Dhoni must bat higher up the order so that he has more balls to face and gets a better chance to score big runs and finish the game.