Challenge to counter ascendancy

MUMBAI: The Pune one day international between India and the West Indies served up a few anti-climax scenarios Indian cricket fans are not used to see. Firstly, the ever-dependable Bhuvneshwar Kumar was whacked all over the park by the burly Windies batters, then for only the third time, Virat Kohli ended up on the losing side after hitting three figures while chasing. All of a sudden there would be a few nervous pangs felt in the Indian dressing room. 

With a series that could go either way, India and West Indies head to the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai for the all-important fourth ODI on Monday. While India who are the favourites haven’t disappointed, West Indies have certainly upped the ante to give the hosts a run for their money. Although West Indies would have ideally wanted to win the ODI in Visakhapatnam, a tie is not at all a bad result and will come as a welcome booster for Caribbeans for the remainder of the series. 

AGAINST ALL ODDS
If you thought this series was going to be one-sided, think again. We’ve had an Indian win, a tie and, now a West Indian win in the topsy-turvy series.

India’s recurring middle-order woe was once again put to display at the MCA Stadium, which could be rated as the reason for their defeat. Apart from Virat Kohli (107), no other batsman could cross the 50-run mark in individual tallies.

Few flaws need to be addressed by Kohli’s men if they are to bounce back in the forthcoming duel. West Indians, on the other hand, would be looking to emulate a similar game-plan and would be dependent on the same set of performers to assist themselves in achieving unlikely targets.  

WINDIES’ HOPE
Shai Hope’s having a dream run in the ongoing 5-match ODI series. He’s already amassed a total of 250 runs, with a century and a fifty in the second and third games respectively. Based on his current exhibitions, it won’t be surprising if the wicket-keeper batsman essays yet another ripping performance in the game at Mumbai.

TEAM-BALANCE
By playing five specialist bowlers, India largely sacrificed on their middle-order in Pune-which was mercilessly exposed at the half-empty MCA Stadium. Lack of all-rounder option seemed to disturb the balance of the side, something a dejected Virat Kohli pointed out on Saturday night. 

“You will always drift to one side when you don’t have the balance. We have to think about the balance that we need,” he stated-suggesting the inclusion of Kedar Jadhav in the fourth ODI.

Amid his uncertainty with injury, Kedar’s inclusion would help shore up the middle order, and besides his powerful hitting, his part-time off-spin could also come handy. 

While most will back Kohli to get another hundred at the CCI, the skipper would be expecting a much-improved performance from his team.

The Windies will be high on confidence going into the fourth ODI after their Saturday’s show and a similar performance would spice-up the much-anticipated contest.

IT’S AT BRABOURNE NOT WANKHEDE!
International cricket will return to Cricket Club of India’s (CCI’s) Brabourne Stadium after almost a decade. The venue will be hosting an international game for the first time since the 2009 Test match against Sri Lanka. The fourth ODI between India and West Indies, to be played on October 29, was moved from the Wankhede Stadium to Brabourne due to the complimentary tickets impasse between the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).