On Saturday night, India’s latest one-day worldwide venue — the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur — bore witness to a well-recognized sight as Rohit Sharma’s boys eased previous New Zealand by eight wickets to notch up their seventh consecutive ODI sequence win at dwelling. It is now India’s longest triumphant streak on their turf.
Their final sequence defeat at dwelling was virtually 4 years in the past — in March 2019 — when Australia battled again from 0-2 right down to etch a memorable victory in a five-match sequence. It is India’s solely dwelling sequence defeat since 2016, successful 13 of their final 14 assignments on acquainted territory.
While India’s dwelling dominance isn’t a latest growth, their successful run for the reason that 2019 ODI World Cup holds larger significance now provided that the marquee 50-over occasion can be held at dwelling this 12 months. It is the fourth time that the ODI World Cup can be held within the subcontinent, and the primary time solely in India.
Since their semi-final exit on the 2019 World Cup in England, India have gained 16 out of 20 matches at dwelling. Their away file isn’t anyplace close to as spectacular in the identical timeframe, successful simply 14 of their 30 matches. It signifies that although India is probably not a well-rounded one-day aspect in all situations in the mean time, they’ve the experience to get the job accomplished on their very own surfaces.
Punters could already be leaning in the direction of making India overwhelming favourites for the October-November World Cup, by no means thoughts they haven’t gained an ICC trophy for the reason that 2013 Champions Trophy. India did stay as much as the large expectations in 2011, the final time the ODI World Cup was held right here.
India have come throughout totally different challenges in opposition to West Indies, Australia, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka and New Zealand on this interval, displaying the mettle and meticulousness to win the sequence every time. Even when India have misplaced the opening sport, like they did in opposition to West Indies, Australia and South Africa, they’ve managed to struggle again.
The newest victory in opposition to New Zealand wasn’t simple both. The Black Caps are among the many greatest one-day groups, illustrated by their No 2 rating and runners-up end within the final two World Cups. But India have outplayed them in each video games of this sequence, the margin of victory within the first ODI in Hyderabad narrowed solely because of Michael Bracewell’s blitzkrieg – 140 off 78 balls – at No 7. In Raipur, the place the pitch supplied seam motion early on, the Indian pacers stepped up and owned the stage.
“It is quite significant considering the World Cup is just around the corner in India,” former India fielding coach R Sridhar, who was with the workforce from 2017 to 2021, mentioned. “Knowing the venues where India are going to play will help. We don’t know the World Cup schedule yet. But if we can spread our matches around in such a way that we can get a hang of all the venues around the country, it will give us a bit of an advantage going into the World Cup.”
The one main hurdle for India at house is more likely to be defending targets. Even within the 4 losses for the reason that final World Cup, three have are available in 12 matches the place they had been batting first. When chasing, they’ve slipped up solely as soon as in eight video games.
“There are certain regions where you bat first and put up a score. But mostly, you have to field first and chase the target down because dew is a huge factor in India if the games start at 1.30pm. It is something that will be debated; a lot of talk has been going on on that front,” added Sridhar.
“Wickets are going to be good for batting in India, so putting big scores on the board and putting pressure on the opposition will be a key factor to succeed. Two wicket-taking spinners in the middle overs is another. All teams need to find bowlers who can take wickets in the middle overs. The pitches are so good that only wickets can put a brake on the scoring rate.”
With simply 10 bilateral ODIs left earlier than the World Cup, India will hope to make optimum use of the time accessible to work on these finer particulars whereas making certain that their successful streak stays intact.
