Though Team India is basking in glory after winning the recently concluded ODI series with depleted England on home turf,needs enormous introspection. However in spite of a hampered side England made an impressive start with a win and ended the series on a winning note at the HPCA stadium, Dharamshala on Sunday. The visitors need be commended on the issue that they have humbled the much stronger home side by losing for 3-2.
What could be the pitfalls and the lessons learned by Team India from this 5 ODI series. Well once again the bowling department needs overhauling and we really need some finishers of the games. The whole setup looks defensive and never ever offensive. To break bigger partnerships we need some good bowlers who could do their best to do the damage when the going gets tough.
Ravindra Jadeja is grooming into a good all rounder, he is sure to do good for the team. Ravichandran Ashwin is one person who impresses me every time he bowls out. Ishanth Sharma seems to get back his rhythm slowly but steadily. New comers Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Shami Ahmed
and Ashoke Dinda are proving to be marvelously good due to the fact that they are new to the oppositions. But with changing techniques and consistency are sure to capture a firm berth in the playing XI.
From the batting department it is alarm bells that are ringing across. Consistency has become a very rare trait in the home team with the willow. Rohit Sharma with an occasional 83 and Yuvraj Singh with lower scores in comparison to the earlier series need to struggle to keep their attack to tick the score board on every ball. On the other hand the only two players who raised to the occasion were the Skipper M S Dhoni and Suresh Raina. While the former gave scintillating performance when required the former was thoroughly consistent in this series.
With Sehwag dropped and Sachin retired, Dhoni must really not have many complaints about aging players with an exception to the other opener. It is now experimental cricket that needs to be played by the team in abundance to find replacements for the stalwarts who have resigned in 2011.
Nearly three hard guns resigned from the 'Sheriff's' job and Dhoni needs fresh whiff to fill their void. With target 2015 on hand it should be tough job for the skipper who himself was facing all round criticism from many, till this series. (Wishesh AarKay)
