The five-time World champion Australia seemed to be caught in a curious bind as it prepared to meet host India in the second ODI of the bilateral series, at Eden Gardens on Thursday.
Capricious weather conditions, more than a supercilious opposition, appeared to be keeping the visitor preoccupied ahead of the match as rain caused persistent interruptions to its schedule ever since it arrived here on Monday. There is more forecast on match day.
The Australians, definitely one of the most professional sides in the sport, betrayed a hint of resentment having had to miss the opportunity to warm up on the Eden turf which has remained under cover for three successive days.
Little consolation
They needed some practice to reorganise themselves for a winning return against a strong Indian side, but two days of restricted training at the indoor facility hardly offered the visitors enough consolation.
The Australian captain Steve Smith had a view of the pitch once the groundsmen briefly lifted the covers at the centre and was evidently mystified at the discovery of a decent grass cover on it.
“The wicket had a little bit of grass on it; probably more than I have seen in India for a while,” Smith said.
The Australian captain may have been enthused at the prospect of being provided a grassy strip and the the advantage it will offer to his pacers like Pat Cummins and Nathan Coulter-Nile.
“They might cut it (grass) in the morning (of the match). I will have another look tomorrow and see how the weather is doing; and also, if there is any change in the wicket,” said Smith who had every reason to be circumspect.
The depth in India’s batting order and the good form of its two wrist spinners — left-armer Kuldeep Yadav and leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal — combined well to hand Australia a defeat in the rain-curtailed match in Chennai.
Topic of strategy
The wrist spin has already become a topic of strategic importance to the visitors as a few of their batsmen are finding it difficult to negotiate. On of them is David Warner who has repeatedly become a victim to the guile of Kuldeep.
“I guess he takes pressure while batting against me and I enjoy bowling to him. I always feel that I would get him out and set my plans accordingly,” said Kuldeep who has got the gutsy opener out repeatedly.
Backed by good form and a streak of successful outings (the last seven ODIs), India definitely has the confidence on its side.
The resilience in the team was to the fore as it went on to construct a big total even after losing five wickets for 87 in the first ODI through the experienced M.S. Dhoni and mercurial Hardik Pandya.
It now remains to be seen how India continues its good run at this venue which had seen the host lose to England in January this year.
The teams
India: Virat Kohli (capt.), Rohit Sharma, K.L. Rahul, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Ajinkya Rahane, M.S. Dhoni (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami and Ravindra Jadeja.
Australia: Steve Smith (capt.), Ashton Agar, Hilton Cartwright, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (wk), David Warner, Adam Zampa and Peter Handscomb.
Match starts at 1.30 p.m.