The Rajkot Revelation

Today's match in Rajkot is truly one of the best matches India has played in recent times, and in this article I look at a few of the revelations that the Rajkot ODI <scorecard> brought to the fore.

The Indian batting was on song with the top three batsman scoring above 50, and hence enabling India to post their highest ODI score of 414/7.  This is largely thanks to Sehwag who absolutely ensured beyond a shadow of doubt just why he is one of the most feared batsman of our times with a breath taking 146 of just 102 deliveries.  But Sri Lanka needing more than eight an over, batted in dazzling style as they fell just 3 runs short of the Indian target.  Dilshan (160) is surely the Sehwag of Sri Lanka.

The Indian batting in the last few years has been in full flow, and this can be seen from the number of results that have swayed in India's favor in the last 3 years.  A clear reflection of this is that India's top four highest totals have come in the last three years.

1. 414/7 - This was scored today.
2. 413/5 - This was scored in 2007 World Cup against Bermuda.
3. 392/4 - This was scored earlier this year earlier this year in New Zealand.
4. 387/5 - This was scored last December against the English in the same venue.

The Sri Lankans too have been in good nick with the bat mostly thanks to the reborn Dilshan, ably supported by the evergreen Sangakara and Jayawardna.  And they made most of a pitch tailor made for batting.  Another revelation is the nature of the wicket prepared for the match.  It was a featherbed.  A total bowler killer pitches that had no sympathy for the bowlers.  It was clearly the bat that dominated the proceedings.  This is sad to see considering that cricket is a game of a evenly contested match between the ball and bat.  That was amiss today.  Oliver Brett, a BBC cricket writer commented, 

"Sri Lanka and India - Best batting sides in world cricket, or worst bowling sides?"

Thankfully as the match ended as an humdinger, cricket was the winner instead of a pitch that bowlers suffered.  The pitches are killing bowlers and with it quality cricket.
Another revelation was the pathetic Indian fielding on display again.  India have dropped 11 catches in 90 overs in the past week alone.  Is this team even trying to become world champions?  Today 3 catches went down, and unsurprisingly no one was surprised at the usual habit.  Poor Micheal Young is being blamed for the mishaps in the field.  The former Australian fielding coach has spent less than two weeks in office and people expect results!  Mr. Young and the Indian players better right their mistakes soon before they prove too costly costing India a match.
Also the Indian bowling is very inconsistent and look uninterested and lack the ability to think straight and execute plans at times.  This is a major case of worry, but the bowling department has been let down by the fielding and have been cheated out of 11 wickets in the last two T20 and this ODI included.

Hopefully India will pull up their socks in the field and find consistency in the bowling before the second ODI.

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Posted in: cricket,Dilshan,England,India,Michael Clarke,New Zealand,ODI,Sehwag,Sri Lanka