6 positive takeaways for India from the VB series
The recently concluded bi-lateral ODI series between India and Australia produced the worst possible result for the Indians as they were steamrolled by the rampaging Aussies. The hosts managed to outdo the visitors in all departments of the game, particularly in batting.However, despite the horrendous result, there were quite a few positives that emerged for Team India which are bound to help them out in the long run. Ample proof of this is visible in the fact that the Indian team actually managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory on at least a couple of occasions in the seires, if not more.Here are 5 positive takeaways for India from the VB series:
#6 Manish Pandey\'s emergence
It is quite difficult to comprehend the fact that Manish Pandey, who made his first-class debut in 2008, took eight years to finally play for his country. With tons of runs in the Ranji Trophy - 5088 runs to be precise, at an average of over 50 - and some gut-wrenching performances in the IPL, playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders, one could have easily counted on him to make his debut much earlier than he actually did.
But that is in the past now, as from the 23rd day of January, Pandey would be remembered for perhaps the most magnificent and timely hundred that has been hit by an Indian batsman in recent times. He scored an unbeaten 104 in a pressure cooker situation, with his side in pursuit of chasing 331- which now is the first time that a 300+ score has been chased against the home side on their soil- and more importantly, stayed there till the end and saw India through.
Pandey’s heroics at Sydney would be remembered for a long long time now, and he for sure, is a permanent starter for India in the limited-overs fixtures to come.