New Zealand series loss: Lessons to be learnt for Team India before World Cup 2015

MS Dhoni needs to improvise and adapt

An ODI series between a team ranked No.8 and the other positioned comfortably at the numero-uno spot in the ICC rankings could well be presumed to be a one-sided affair, and the ongoing India-New Zealand ODI series has been no exception. Though, in this case the laurels have actually gone to the team ranked lower. Even after being on the receiving end of the mauling in the recently (a term used quite often in the present cricket calendar) concluded ODI series against South Africa, the ‘Men in Blue’ were deemed as the favorites ahead of the ODI series against the Kiwis.

But, owing to a strong performance by the Black Caps and some below par showings in probably all the aspects of the game by Team India, the Kiwis have registered a comprehensive series win. On one hand, it was a shot in the arm for the Black Caps who sealed their first series win at home in five years against a major Test playing nation, whereas on the other, it was a time for introspection for the ‘Rockstars’. But the defeat could well be a blessing in disguise for the Indian team.

As far as ODI cricket goes, Team India had a wonderful last year marked with some memorable victories. However, there were still some seriously worrying aspects of the game that they had refused to fix, which usually happens when results come your way. Those aspects have come to light now. A defeat can never be a good thing, but it’s timing can occasionally be not so bad.

The defeats on these tours of New Zealand and South Africa have quite blatantly exposed Team India’s weaknesses, but at the same time with ICC’s flagship tournament still almost a year away, it has also given the team a golden opportunity to carefully dissect and eliminate the following of their frailties before the big event.

The Cheteshwar Pujara conundrum

The current Indian batting line-up with the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina has time and again proved that flamboyance and scoring quick runs have never been their problems, which was amply clear against the Aussies in the One-day series at home last October. The real predicament lies when this same line-up has to apply themselves in tough conditions against quality pace bowling. And only two of the current Indian batsmen i.e. Virat Kohli and Mahendra Singh Dhoni have been able to tackle both these challenges successfully. To further worsen the matter, one of these two doesn’t even bat in the top-order.

So, for the current Indian batting line-up to be successful against quality attacks in alien conditions, the need of the hour is solidity and not flashiness; this is where Pujara comes in. Awarded the ‘ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year 2013’, Pujara is someone who not only has a technique as tight as the security at the White House but also the temperament required to battle it out in tough conditions.

A test average of 66.25 with six 100s is a testimony to both his temperament as well as technique. And if there were any doubts about his ability to score outside the sub-continent, he brushed all those away by scoring 280 runs at an average of 70 against probably the toughest attack that a present day batsman can face.