Apocalypse of Indian Cricket Team

The loss to South Africa in Nagpur on Saturday exposed many frailties in the hosts' line-up. TOI lists a few problems and possible solutions that Team India can pay attention to if they want to feature in the business end of the tourney

Problem 1: No method in powerplays

In the two matches that India haven't won, against England in Bangalore (tied) and against South Africa in Nagpur (lost), India messed up with the batting powerplays big time. Against England, they could score just 32 runs for the loss of one wicket, while against South Africa, they lost four wickets for 30 runs. On both occasions, the batsmen were guilty of aiming for too high a score and ended up paying the penalty. A more circumspect approach will do the job.

Possible solution: The batsmen can ask themselves a simple question: Do we go hell for leather in the first 10 overs which are the mandatory powerplay overs? If the answer to that question is no, then the approach should change in the game against West Indies.

Problem 2: Faulty batting order?

Virat Kohli, who was India's most successful batsman in ODIs in 2010 and who scored a hundred in India's first match of the World Cup against Bangladesh, has been sacrificed at the cost of getting more runs. In the match against England, he batted at No. 7 as Yusuf Pathan and MS Dhoni batted higher. Against South Africa, too he batted at No. 7. Is he paying the price for his success?

Possible solution: Even in a powerplay scenario, Kohli at No. 4 is a safe bet as he is a very good stroke player and a powerful striker of the cricket ball. No. 4 is three spots too high for Pathan. Kohli can attack and in case there is a collapse, he can also graft and work the ball around for singles. He would have been an ideal man for the situation on Saturday.

Problem 3: Stubborn selection

R Ashwin and Sreesanth must be wondering what wrong have they done to not feature in the playing XI. India are struggling with spin-bowling back-up for Harbhajan and pace-bowling back-up for Zaheer.

Possible solution: There is no theory in the world that says you can't have two off-spinners in the playing XI. Ashwin is a man with plenty of variations and must get in as Piyush Chawla just hasn't looked the part. Ashish Nehra too hasn't been consistent post his injury problems and in the death overs, he tends to leak runs. Time for the captain to overlook Sreesanth's antics and give him a game.