5 things India need to do to bounce back in Durban

India will need to bowl better

Out-batted. Out-bowled. Out-fielded. Out-thought. All in all, India were totally outplayed in the first ODI at Johannesburg. They’ve had 3 days to think, plan and strategize and they will look to put all of that into plan when the second ODI starts at Kingsmead today. Here is a look at 5 major things India need to do to have a chance in Durban.

1. Start strong with the new ball

India made woeful use of the new ball at Jo’burg and they will have to pull up their socks in that department. Mohammad Shami should be given the new ball for sure. He was India’s best fast bowler on show at Jo’burg and a lot rests on his shoulders to carry the attack. Ishant Sharma or Umesh Yadav must get a look in ahead of Mohit Sharma, who looked completely out of his depth in the first ODI  when de Villers carted him all around the park.

2. Bowl better in the death overs

Something that has been India’s Achilles heel for a long, long time. Somehow, the Indian bowlers always seem to lose the plot at the death, and runs begin to haemorrhage at an alarming rate. In the last nine ODIs, India have conceded 70+ runs in the last 10 overs on eight occasions – Not a stat that MS Dhoni is pleased about. Dhoni made his displeasure felt, after the Jo’burg ODI, which was the worst display of death bowling, in terms of runs conceded, with India going for 135 runs in the last 10 overs, and 84 in the last five. Somehow, that yorker has never been delivered consistently by any of the Indian bowlers.