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UNDERESTIMATING WEST INDIES PROVED COSTLY FOR INDIAN BOWLERS

Undoubtedly, Indian team batted with good momentum in the first ODI against the West Indies and gave a big target of 309 runs to the hosts but the kind of reply given by the Windies batsmen should also be appreciated. Before the start of the match, Indian team were favourites, but on the ground the […]

Undoubtedly, Indian team batted with good momentum in the first ODI against the West Indies and gave a big target of 309 runs to the hosts but the kind of reply given by the Windies batsmen should also be appreciated. Before the start of the match, Indian team were favourites, but on the ground the match remained exciting till the last ball.

One needs to praise the way West Indies batsmen faced the Indian bowlers under pressure. In response, the Indian bowling seemed to be completely shattered. Three bowlers conceded more than fifty runs in their ten overs. Shardul Thakur gave more than fifty runs in just 8 overs. In such a situation, the Indian team will have to work on it in the coming matches because the West Indies team is going through a poor form and playing like this can boost their confidence.

At the same time, in India’s batting, the middle order has definitely increased the concern of the team because both India’s openers gave the team a strong start and everyone expected the team’s score to reach 350, but after the crucial half-century of both the openers followed by Shreyas Iyer, India’s middle order was seen struggling in front of the Windies bowlers, India missed the opportunity of a good start. Their bowlers made the comeback and India could reach only 308 runs.

In such a situation, apart from bowling well in rest of the matches of this series, India’s batting will also have to be worked out as Asia Cup and T20 World Cup are going to be held in the coming times and these are few opportunities for India where players can work on their flaws. Although West Indies lost the first ODI they forced Indian fans to bite nails. After such a performance in very first match of the series, it will come down with increased morale in the rest of the series and all this will also increase their confidence in the T20 series that follows.

The author is Virat Kohli’s coach and Dronacharya Award winner.

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