Need for Flexibility

Simon Doull made a valid point when he said that he was surprised by Indian team's reluctance to change things in the ongoing one day series with New Zealand. India lost the first two encounters and tied the third one, thanks to some unexpected heroics with the bat from Aswin and Jadeja. Then in the fourth match, India changed too many things suddenly. They decided to bat first, which they had not done throughout the series. They decided to bring in two players, including a debutante. And the best batsman in the line-up, who bats one down, opened the innings. Doull pointed that too many sudden changes seldom work. Of course he had the advantage of the hindsight but he does have a point. India lost the fourth match and the series.

Indian captain was furious. He played two good innings in the last two matches. Whenever he plays well and India loses, he usually is furious. Else, he puts a 'vague' blame on the batsmen. This time, he was furious with his pace bowlers. He even wentvon to say that the pace bowlers should learn to use their brains and that the spinners are more or less decided for the World Cup in 2015 but he is not sure which fast bowlers will make it.

I disagree on multiple levels. However, I would like to make it clear that I complete agree that the pacers did not bowl in the right areas and sprayed it all over the place. They were short and wide more often than not. Shami did take decent number of wickets but he was expensive as well. So am not trying to defend the performance of the pacers in this series.

My issue is the singling out of the pace bowlers. Of course, their performance was below par. However, the spinners did not fare any better. If a satisfactory performance from a spinner is taking 1 or at max 2 wickets and giving away 6 to 7 runs in an over, then I would be surprised if India would be able to retain its title in the World Cup next year. Indian captain has made it clear that he does not like 4 pacer strategy as it impacts the over-rate. Valid point. However, that empashises the need for quality spinners. Aswin and Jadeja may be the chosen ones but their performance was not great or even satisfactory either.

I believe Dhoni is more impressed with the batting abilities of both his spinners. That is again okay. Every captain is entitled to have his own strategy and gameplan. Dhoni clearly prefers to have more ammunition in his batting line-up. However, by being satisfied with below par bowling performance by his spinners, he puts unfair pressure on the pace bowlers.

The two spinners have done well in India. They restrict the opposition and take wickets. But so do Bhuvaneswar Kumar and Shami. Unfortunately, the World Cup would not be played in India or the subcontinent. India needs bowlers, who can take wickets in Australia and New Zealand - pacers as well spinners. 

Dhoni clearly prefers to have Aswin and Jadeja in his team - irrespective of the conditions. But if he wants to continue with this strategy, he needs another decent bowling option. Someone like an Irrfan Pathan (if he is fit, which he rarely is) would be handy. Or it could be any other medium pace bowler who is also good with the bat. If Irrfan is fit, it would be better to have him in the side. And I would go with Yuvraj over Raina any day. I believe Yuvraj would anyways be included but in place of Rahane, who is yet to pick full steam. I will not be too disappointed if that happens but there is a need for Raina to justify his existence.....and quickly.

Moreover, there is a need to try few other spinners. Mishra should definitely be tried. Am biased towards leggies :)

Overall, it is okay if India lost to New Zealand. They deserved to lose. However, it would be better if Indian team considers it as a learning experience and a preparatory camp and starts to unlearn and then learn a few things. Strangely, fielding is the only department where India did well. In every other department, there is work required to do. So it is unfair to single out the young and inexperienced pacers.