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Boria Majumdar

We keep talking about bench strength. For most it is the most important yardstick to judge how good or bad a team is. Applying this very same logic, a modest Indian performance in the five match one day series against England will demonstrate that Indian cricket is in health at least in the one day 50 over format of the game.

From the team that played and won the World Cup final, India is missing five key players. Among them are the highest wicket taker of the World Cup and also the player of the tournament. India is also missing the services of two of its top three batsmen and its premier spinner. With a new look side if MS Dhoni can stand up against a full and on a roll English team it will indeed be a testament to India’s ability in the 50-over version.

Based on the T-20 match at Manchester a prediction is in order. India should rightly invest in Ajinkya Rahane. It is not about getting runs. On a given day anyone can get a whirlwind half century in cricket’s shortest format. Yusuf Pathan has got two great hundreds against his name. But never has Pathan convinced us that he can perform consistently at the highest level. It is more about how the runs are scored, what shots are played, how are the short deliveries negotiated and finally what kind of body language the batsman exudes. Rahane, it must be said, looked a man in charge. The short deliveries were dispatched with confidence and it wasn’t about fending the short stuff. He looked solid on both sides of the wicket and looked to be India’s version of Jonathan Trott. While it might be a tad harsh on Patel, India should surely go in with Rahane from what we have seen at Manchester.

It is also a contest between R Ashwin and Swann. In the test match arena Swann is a runway winner. But in the 50 over format Ashwin is as wily as anyone else. Stopping just before his delivery stride to assess what the batsman is up to, is he gearing up to play a premeditated stroke, Ashwin has evolved as a bowler in 2010-2011. It was disappointing to see him bowl three wides in his first over at Manchester conceding 15 in the process. A good tight spell from Ashwin against the likes of Samit Patel will be crucial in the middle overs of the innings. With Harbhajan out injured it is a great opportunity for Ashwin to cement his place as India’s premier offie in the shorter format of the game.

India continues to be winless against England so far but this is surely their best chance. The likes of Virat and Rohit are likely to be the cornerstone of India’s one day batting in the future and it is time they come good against quality opposition in adverse conditions. Both have the ability and the potential and it is time they translate ability into runs and do so consistently. I have huge hopes of Virat, who has the ability to manoeuvre and also improvise. Just that he has to be a little patient at the start of his innings.

He is not one who is going to be overawed or distracted by the short stuff and has the ability to steer the innings. If India has to win the series Virat will have to play the anchor on more than one occasion. He has so far been the sidekick to India’s greats and has played a valuable role as a support cast. He did so in the world cup final as well. It is time now to evolve from being a support cast to playing the lead, to ensuring that others rotate round him and not the other way round.

Finally a word on the skipper. MS Dhoni, it has to be acknowledged, has a weakness against the new ball. With three slips waiting to pouch an edge, England had his measure in the test matches. But against the older ball Dhoni can surely hold his own. He did so confidently at Edgbaston in the third test. With no chance of the new ball tormenting him, it is time the skipper delivers with the bat. A quick look at the video of his world cup final innings will do no harm and it is time for Dhoni to step up. His aura may have been tarnished but he is still the best India has. To quote him, “soldiers don’t surrender”. Time to put the mantra into practice.