India bowlers to let rip against New Zealand after Mumbai blip

Sport360 staff 23:20 24/10/2017
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  • India’s bowling has come under scrutiny after failing to defend 281 in the first ODI against New Zealand. The Kiwis romped to a six-wicket win with the help of a 200-run stand between Tom Latham and Ross Taylor, with none of Indian bowlers making an impact.

    Seamers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah are one of the finest new and old ball bowlers in the world while spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav have provided breakthroughs in the middle overs consistently. But they fell flat in Mumbai, putting extra pressure on the Indians as the hosts look to avoid a rare series defeat in the second match in Pune Wednesday. However, for bowling coach Bharat Arun, there is no reason to panic.

    “In all fairness, India have won nine games on the trot (nine of their last ten before the Mumbai ODI) and the two wrist spinners (Chahal and Kuldeep) have done their job,” Arun said.

    “Time and again, they have taken wickets. Sometimes, it does happen that you don’t get the desired wickets, or you have your plans in place but they don’t work out. If you look at the overall percentages, we are happy with the way they have shaped up, so one odd match shouldn’t trouble us.”

    Despite the comprehensive defeat, Arun said the team management is not looking at tinkering with the line-up.

    “You’ve got to consider the weather, consider the workload, how much they have bowled in the match, how much they have bowled at. It’s (bowling line-up) not just the decision of the bowling coach, it is a combined decision of the physio, trainer and the bowling coach.”

    India have such faith in their current bowling attack, the likes of experienced quicks Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami are not even part of the squad and have been asked to play first-class cricket to remain in top shape.

    “If you look at Shami and Umesh, they are your No1 Test bowlers,” he pointed out. “And Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah have been exceptional and possess all the skills to do well in one-day competitions. With the volume of cricket India is going to play, it is very important that we have a pool of bowlers to choose from so that they remain fresh for every form of the game that we play.”

    Apart from the quicks, even veteran spinners Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have been deemed surplus to the team’s requirements. Whether these bowlers, now considered Test specialists, continue to be kept out of the team remains to be seen. Defeat today, however, might just change that equation.

    The bowling coach said falling 1-0 behind in the series might just be the wake-up call the team needs and will help the players prepare for tougher assignments away from home.

    “We look at it as a big challenge right now,” he insisted. “New Zealand compete exceptionally well, they had a fantastic partnership (in Mumbai) and they went on to win that game. It is a bigger challenge for us now to come back. We know we have our plans in place and it is good testing ground for the team (on) how you come back from behind and do well in the series.”

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