India's tour of Australia 2018-19 - 1st T20 - 21 November, 2018 - Gabba

The Aussies won the first T20 match which was reduced to 17 overs for 45 minutes break due to rain (in 17th over of the first inning). It was a humdinger match. The pendulum swung both the ways during the match finally Aussies were able to hold their nerve and come out on top.

Dinesh Karthik's pulsating innings of 30(13) could not help India to cross the winning line. Before DK's innings, as usual one of India's top 3 came out with a blitzkrigging  innings. It was Shikhar Dhawan's innings of 76(42) which ensured that India had more than a foot in the door in this match. However, he did not get the support from the other end. Rohit, Rahul and Virat struggled to find their timing while Shikhar Dhawan fluent on the other side. When Shikhar Dhawan perished, India needed 69 from 32 balls. This mountain was almost climbed by DK and Rishabh Pant with their partnership of 51 from 24 balls. However, Rishabh Pant again threw his wicket away with his trade mark "reverse Shovel" shot. Krunal Pandya came in and had a poor outing (both with bat and ball). In final over with 13 needed from it, Krunal Pandya and DK perished in back to back balls trying to find boundary.

India's target of 174  set due to (i) Duck-worth Lewis method; and (ii) Maxwell and Stoinis's brilliant innings. Australia had a slow start against India's double BB (Bhuvi and Bumrah). Aussies lost their first wicket in 5th over with only 24 on the board to a beautiful backward running catch by Kuldeep Yadav. That was the only moment of brilliance shown by India on the field. Subsequently there were missed catches, missed run outs and missed fields. Aussies innings did not get going till the 11th over. With 75 on board, Maxwell was joined by Stoinis. The duo never looked back and stitched together partnership of 78 in 37 balls. Maxwell in specific was very aggressive. This innings will surely help him fetch good bugs at IPL auction. Aussies were 153-3 at 16.1 overs and the rain halted the match for 45 minutes or so. Subsequently, the match was reduced to 17 overs and Aussies managed to score 158 from their 17 overs. That meant India had to score 174 runs to win (as calculated by Duckworth and Lewis method).

Finally, the scoreline reads like

Aus	158-4
India	169-7

India lost by 4 runs (DL method).

Try explaining the result to your female friends / relatives. You will find it difficult to explain that such thing can happen. That's why they say, anything can happen in Cricket.

This win gives the required boost to the Aussies and wake up call to India. Second match will be really interesting to at Melbourne.

Cheers!!

India's Tour of Australia - 2018-19 - precursor

For an Indian cricket fan, the most imp. Foreign tour is India's tour to Australia. Over the years this tour has tested Indian cricket teams. I will not be wrong if I say that if a particular player does well on this tour, his career is on fast track. Who can forget Ishant's firely spell to Ricky ponting on India's famous tour to Australia in 2007-08. Irfan Pathan also made his debut and made an impact in India's 2003-04 tour. Rohit Sharma also shone in CB series cricket in 2008. The list can go on and on.

Every time the Indian team travel downunder, there is always a hope that India will win a test series here, this time is also not an exception. However, the best result for India in recent past is India's tour to Australia in 2003-04, where India led by Sourav Ganguly managed to draw the series with 1-1 and retain the Border Gavaskar trophy. In all other tours, India have lost the series. Hence, there is something each Indian team which has toured Australia misses while preparing for the tour. Let's hope that the team led by Virat Kohli does learn to adapt quickly and manage to win the test series.

Coming to the white ball cricket, India must fancy her chances this time around. The Australian team is not even 50% strong what is used to be some years ago. Aussies play hard cricket, no doubt about it, however, the difference in the skills / talent  / experience is vast between the two teams. Aussies have a new captain (may not be obvious choice, but made for the sake of it) and he his trying to know his team. Some players are still finding their feet in the International arena (say alex carey / D arcy short / billy stanlake etc.) Some players have been awefully out of form and want to make impact on the international stage (glenn maxwell / marcus stoinis / nathan courter-nile / adam zampa). On the other side, India is on rampage. The top 3 Indian batsman are most dangerous trio  in the world currently. As they say, if Virat can't then Rohit can. Most of the time either Rohit or Virat ensures that one of them bats for the major part of the innings in 50 over / 20 over match. India does have some middle order issues, but the players like ambati rayudu / dinesh karthik /rishabh pant have responded to the opportunity. Lokesh Rahul is a kind of the batsman we all know. He needs to be consistent. India's bowling attack is as deadly as it can get with Bumrah / Bhuvi and Khaleel doing well. The pacers are ably supported by spin twins. Krunal pandya has also made use of the opportunity provided to him against Windies.

Hence, currently, India surely start as favourites in T20 and 50 over series and dare I say for tests as well. For me the defining factor is how quickly Indians adapt to the Australian bounce and pace.

This is the best chance Virat Kohli's man have to write the history.

As a typical Indian fan I wish this time we retain the Border Gavaskar trophy.

Cheers!!

Post match analysis - India v. Windies - 2nd T20 - 06 Nov 2018

It was Diwali fireworks from the bat of Rohit Sharma. The only man on the earth to have score four T20 Hundreds. He is in sublime form to say the least. It is becoming regular feature in India's ODI matches (50 over or T20), if the opposition cannot get Rohit out early, he will knock out the opposition Single handedly. He has showed that twice in this series itself. Once in Brabourne Stadium where he outscored the whole Windies batting line up and second time in yesterday's T20 match where he scored 111 runs and Windies batsman this time managed to outscore him and they scored 124. This shows the man's impact on the match. There is no doubt that around the world RoHIT(man) Sharma has become most feared batsman in white ball format. He makes batting look like a romantic song - smooth and silky. Infact, I feel that in coming matches if a bowler gets Rohit Sharma out early, he will be given man of the match for the simple reason that Rohit's wicket atleast saves 100 runs for the opposition.

Coming to the match, as expected Windies made one change and replaced out of form Rovman Powell with Nicolas Pooran. India went unchanged. Windies won the toss and decided to field first on a new pitch with expectations of dew. Indian openers were watchful for first three overs. Assessed the pitch conditions to launch a fierce attack on Windies bowlers later on. In fact Rohit sharma mentioned in the post match presentation about the conscious effort to be watchful for first three overs. This paid rich dividend and the Opening pair went on to put another 100+ runs partnership in a T20 match. This partnership itself turned the odds in favour of India. Dhawan perished in the 14th over trying to accelerate to Fabian Allen to a very good catch by Pooran. Pant also got in and out after facing five deliveries trying to hit a six in Cow corner. By this time Rohit had become the beast which we all know of. In the death overs, ably aided by KL Rahul, Rohit transformed his batting from a car to jet plane which took off quickly. India scored staggering 66 in last 5 overs @ run rate of 13.20 per over. By the end of the first innings, Windies had already lost the game in mind. However, they had to come out and bat for the 20 overs and hope for the miracle from any of its batsman.

However, miracle did not happen and India's clinical bowling performance ensured India winning the T20 series as well. Windies were listless from the start of the chase. After hitting a beautiful Six, Shai hope was bowled by Khaleel trying to hit one more out of the ground. Hetmyer was joined by another southpaw, Bravo. The duo tried to stitch a partnership however, Hetmyer got out to Khaleel trying to heave the ball in the sixth over of the match. From then it all went down for Windies. Kuldeep took two in one over. Bumrah bowled a beautiful bouncer to get rid of his Mumbai India teammate Pollard. At 68 for 5 at 11 overs, captain came to bat for formality and game was done and dusted by then. The Windies ensured that they did not get all out and ended their innings at 124 for 9.

A lot was expected out of Windies in T20 matches however, they have been nothing short of listless and dull. They have not put up any kind of competition to the Indian team. Now, going to the third match Indians can experiment and give the opportunity to the players who have been warming the bench.

Let's hope in the third match Windies play the brand of cricket which they are known for, so that we get some competitive match. Otherwise it can be the same routine match where Indians put up a clinical performance.

Cheers!!
Happy Diwali!!
Happy New Year!!

Preview - India V. Windies - 2nd T20 - 06.11.2018

Preveiw

After the loss in the first T20 match against the hosts, Windies needs to bounce back in order to keep the series alive. They may need to look more into their bowling as compared to their batting. Explanation to follow.  As far as India is concerned they look a solid formidable side with everyone knowing what is expected out of them.

Lucknow is hosting its first international match. It will be interesting to see how the pitch will behave and what the captain winning the toss decides to do. If I were Rohit Sharma, I would look to Bat first, put the runs on the board and let the struggling Windies batting line up chase the score. Having said that Windies' batting is very mercurial and has the potential to chase down any total on a given day.

Let us see what we can expect from this game.

Windies' point of view -

Batting on paper looks potent. Shai Hope was in a cracker of form in first three ODIs just to fizzle out in last two ODIs. He with experienced Denesh Ramdin are a good opening pair. With explosive Hetmyer and mighty Pollard at 3 and 4, the top order looks commendable. Coming to middle order, Darren Bravo is perfect at 5 (probably Pollard and Bravo can exchange the place depending upon the situation). Bravo can be change his game speed as per the needs of the game. At 6 Rovman Powell is yet to show his talent on the Indian soil. Followed by him, captain Carlos Braithwaite is more than handy at 7. Fabian allen and Keemo paul at 8 & 9 were pivotal for Windies to get pass 100 in last match. We have not seen much from Khary Pierre and Oshane Thomas with bat. Though the Windies fell apart to Indian spinners in Kolkata, Indians cannot take Windies for granted in Lucknow.

Suggestion in batting order - Pooran needs to replace Powell. Pooran has had a wonderful CPL.

Bowling - Though inexperienced Oshane Thomas and Captain Carlos Braithwaite troubled the Indian batsman in Kolkata, Windies need to identify their bowling combination which can consistently keep the pressure on Indian batting line up lead by Rohit Sharma. For the fifth bowler, Windies need to look to Pollard and Allen. Keemo paul has not troubled the Indian batsman till now on the tour and Khary Pierre has made his debut in last match where he was very impressive with economical figures of 4-0-16-1.

Obed McCoy can come in place of  Keemo Paul / Fabien Allen.

India's point of view

Batting  -  With Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan at top followed by KL Rahul, it is upto the opposition to ensure that they get them out quickly. Otherwise any one of these batsman can do heavy destruction to the opposition. Pant / Dinesh Karthik and Manish pandey form a solid Middle Order. Krunal Pandya at 8 and Kuldeep Yadav at 9 are followed by tail. India may be tempted to provide an opportunity to Shreyas Iyer. However, who will sit out is also question. Given the squad, this side is currently nicely balanced.

Bowling -  Bumrah is doing what he has been doing best, bowling fast and on the mark. Khaleel has grabbed the opportunity with both his hands. Kuldeep is also in a great wicket taking form. With Krunal bowling economically, Windies batsman have uphill task. The only cause of worry is Umesh. However, he needs to be given a long rope.

All in all, the lucknow match may prove to be the best firecracker of the Diwali for the spectators.