Team India show positive intent

In sport, the word “body language” is used often. Captain Virat Kohli also spoke about it before the third ODI at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Wednesday.

Sure enough, the skipper, under fire for various reasons, responded well and so did his team as the Men in Blue won a consolation match in the form of the third one day international against the Aussies.

The wholesale changes which India made could be read in various ways, pressing the panic button or giving fresher talent and bodies a chance. Sure enough, the results were there to see at a venue where the boundary is huge, just slightly short of the historic MCG.

The word “body language” kept coming back to the mind as play went through at a faster clip as the Indians did not lag in their over-rate. First things first, after Shikhar Dhawan faltered and Shubhman Gill fell in the thirties, Virat Kohli set the record straight.

By reaching 12,000 runs in ODI cricket in the fastest time, the man with an insatiable hunger for runs steadied the rocking boat. He looked good for a hundred, which he missed, but what was more important was he played with responsibility, given the circumstances. This will surely ensure Kohli will be able to lead from the front in the T20 series beginning on Friday.

To be sure, this series Down Under is being played at break-neck speed. The way teams have to adapt is different. For India, superstar Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja stole the show with the bat. Their 150-run partnership was sublime. It emphasised what “body language” is and how you can prevail over the Aussies in mind games when the speedsters and spinners are trying to inflict pressure.

Pandya’s all-rounder status is under question. Post surgery, he is still not bowling as one would want but with the bat he showed immense craft. After the match, Pandya spoke of responsibility which has from fatherhood. Surely, to translate lessons learnt from personal life to the cricket field was a huge learning for the viewers.

Jadeja preferred to play second fiddle. He showed that when it mattered, he had the skills and the partnership with Pandya enabled India score 302.

This was a big day for the Indian bowlers, what with debutant T.Natarajan earning his India cap. The left-arm paceman was not overawed by the situation and along with Shardul Thakur bowled very effectively on a track which was helpful if the bowlers were willing to slog hard. Earlier, Jasprit Bumrah showed he had the fire to trouble the Aussies.

The Aussie bowlers showed  bounce could be extracted while Nataran and Shardul relied more on their own strengths.

Of course, from here to the T20 series, it will be a different ball game. Had the ODI series scoreline been 0-3 for India, it would have been demoralising.

Yet, for the think-tank comprising Ravi Shastri and Kohli to make changes in the final ODI went to show they will try and find the best playing 11 combination.

Having played hard T20 cricket in the Indian Premier League, the Indians can fancy their chances. Two days back, the mood was sombre for the Indian cricket fans. Hope the latest win can serve as the right “tadka” for India to get their winning recipe right!

Sure enough, the skipper, under fire for various reasons, responded well and so did his team as the Men in Blue won a consolation match in the form of the third one day international against the Aussies.

The wholesale changes which India made could be read in various ways, pressing the panic button or giving fresher talent and bodies a chance. Sure enough, the results were there to see at a venue where the boundary is huge, just slightly short of the historic MCG.

The word “body language” kept coming back to the mind as play went through at a faster clip as the Indians did not lag in their over-rate. First things first, after Shikhar Dhawan faltered and Shubhman Gill fell in the thirties, Virat Kohli set the record straight.

By reaching 12,000 runs in ODI cricket in the fastest time, the man with an insatiable hunger for runs steadied the rocking boat. He looked good for a hundred, which he missed, but what was more important was he played with responsibility, given the circumstances. This will surely ensure Kohli will be able to lead from the front in the T20 series beginning on Friday.

To be sure, this series Down Under is being played at break-neck speed. The way teams have to adapt is different. For India, superstar Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja stole the show with the bat. Their 150-run partnership was sublime. It emphasised what “body language” is and how you can prevail over the Aussies in mind games when the speedsters and spinners are trying to inflict pressure.

Pandya’s all-rounder status is under question. Post surgery, he is still not bowling as one would want but with the bat he showed immense craft. After the match, Pandya spoke of responsibility which has from fatherhood. Surely, to translate lessons learnt from personal life to the cricket field was a huge learning for the viewers.

Jadeja preferred to play second fiddle. He showed that when it mattered, he had the skills and the partnership with Pandya enabled India score 302.

This was a big day for the Indian bowlers, what with debutant T.Natarajan earning his India cap. The left-arm paceman was not overawed by the situation and along with Shardul Thakur bowled very effectively on a track which was helpful if the bowlers were willing to slog hard. Earlier, Jasprit Bumrah showed he had the fire to trouble the Aussies.

The Aussie bowlers showed  bounce could be extracted while Nataran and Shardul relied more on their own strengths.

Of course, from here to the T20 series, it will be a different ball game. Had the ODI series scoreline been 0-3 for India, it would have been demoralising.

Yet, for the think-tank comprising Ravi Shastri and Kohli to make changes in the final ODI went to show they will try and find the best playing 11 combination.

Having played hard T20 cricket in the Indian Premier League, the Indians can fancy their chances. Two days back, the mood was sombre for the Indian cricket fans. Hope the latest win can serve as the right “tadka” for India to get their winning recipe right!