Axar had a powerful sequence each with the bat and ball.
| Picture Credit score: VIJAY SONEJI
One of many penalties of getting an ICC occasion yearly is that every one different sequence develop into coaching grounds for the closest marquee international competitors. Bilateral cricket, as soon as the bedrock of the worldwide limited-overs sport, hardly issues as matches now resemble testing websites for groups to agency up their mixtures.
The three-match ODI sequence between India and England that completed right here on Wednesday is the newest instance of this phenomenon. And going by how the 2 groups fared, it’s India, which received 3-0, that might be mighty happy forward of the ICC Champions Trophy that begins subsequent week in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.
Previous to the sequence, India’s prime concern was to plan for Jasprit Bumrah’s absence on the Champions Trophy. Whereas a like-for-like substitute for Bumrah’s genius is inconceivable, there at the moment are indicators that assorted personnel might be trusted to convey a various set of expertise and plug the opening.
The think-tank will hope for Harshit Rana’s wicket-taking capability, Arshdeep Singh’s death-bowling expertise and Varun Chakaravarthy’s long-enduring thriller to behave as cowl. Mohammed Shami’s return to full health can be a shot within the arm as India will look to the premier quick bowler to breed the 2023 World Cup magic.
There have been additionally beneficial properties on the batting entrance as Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill roared again to type with centuries, and accrued 122 and 259 runs respectively. Virat Kohli too made a half-century within the third ODI, elevating hopes that his greatest type could also be not far away. Shreyas Iyer was glorious in his function as a middle-order enforcer, totalling 181 runs from three video games at a exceptional strike-rate of 123.12.
The best way head coach Gautam Gambhir and skipper Rohit strategised in opposition to England gave sneak peek into how they wished to method the sport. Be it the best way Rohit, Gill, Kohli and Shreyas batted or the attacking bowling modifications that had been launched within the middle-overs, it confirmed that India was not able to let the sport meander.
Gambhir can be a agency believer in having a southpaw up high or within the middle-order. However having changed opener Yashasvi Jaiswal with Varun within the Champions Trophy squad, it should almost definitely be Axar Patel’s job – or presumably Ravindra Jadeja’s – to supply that selection. In truth, Axar has batted at No. 5 or No. 6 in 4 of his final 5 ODI innings and made scores of 44, 2, 52 and 41 n.o., proving that he’s very a lot the trusted man.
Printed – February 13, 2025 09:16 pm IST
