A second-string Indian side managed to escape with a four-run victory over a plucky Zimbabwean team in the first of three ODIs on Friday. A 160-run record stand for the sixth wicket between centurion Ambati Rayudu and the often-maligned Stuart Binny helped save India some blushes and post a target of 256, before skipper Elton Chigumbura's unbeaten ton nearly took Zimbabwe home in improbable fashion.
It was an unexpectedly exciting start to a low-key series. In fact, it felt refreshingly like a throwback to the 1990s: a fair contest between bat and ball; moderate totals that resulted in a tight finish; revised field restrictions closer to ODI factory settings; and little to separate the two countries, a la the era of Zimbabwe's Flower and Strang brothers.
In the absence of most of India’s senior players, who have been rested for this tour, Rayudu (unbeaten 124) and Binny (77 and two wickets) seized the opportunity to strengthen their first-team credentials.
This is not the bench
India's tour of Zimbabwe is as much a battle between two countries as it is between teammates, making it an intriguingly unusual proposition. It's a battle within a battle too. Previous tours to the country with experimental squads had a young, exciting and collaborative flavour to it. That appears to be missing this time around, replaced with a man versus wild mentality. Thrown into the African jungle, let's see who survives.
The focus has been placed on giving time to a worryingly average bench strength rather than grooming youngsters for the long-term future. Axar Patel and Sandeep Sharma are the only exceptions. Inexperience in the squad doesn't correspond to the average age. These players are not India's next generation of cricketers – rather, they’re the ones who haven't succeeded in cementing a spot for themselves in the first team.
In 2010 and 2013, young captains Suresh Raina (23 at the time) and Virat Kohli (24) led squads to Zimbabwe with average ages of 24 and 25 years, respectively. Now in 2015, Ajinkya Rahane (27) leads one with an average age of over 27.
Rayudu grabs his chance…
Rayudu, India's saviour at Harare, is nearly 30 years old. He has fond memories of Zimbabwe, the 2013 tour to the country being his maiden international call-up after toiling away for 11 years. Off-field problems and participation in the rebel Indian Cricket League stunted his growth before performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Mumbai Indians, in the Ranji Trophy for Baroda and for India A put him back in contention.
In the first ODI, Rayudu's maturity and focus stood out. He assessed the pitch and match scenarios to dig deep, see off Zimbabwe's inspired new-ball bowling (along with Rahane) and eventually carry India from a precarious 87/5 through to the end of 50 overs. The half-century milestone was greeted with a non-celebration, suggesting that there was much work to be done. The century milestone, though, was welcomed with a roar of satisfaction that even blasted out of television sets.
It was a statement of both intent and authority. If the Bangladesh series is anything to go by, the lone middle-order position up for grabs in the first team is currently Rayudu's spot. The rest are just vying to knock him off his perch. The irony of him being captained by Rahane shouldn't be lost on anyone either. The latter being dropped in favour of Rayudu during the tour of Bangladesh.
…But what about the others?
Other players to come out with major credit were Binny, Patel and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Binny may not be a fan favourite but his first real all-round performance, including a maiden ODI half-century, comes at a time when Ravindra Jadeja appears to have hit the end of the road. The timing couldn't have been better for him.
Patel's (2/41) spin overshadowed that of Harbhajan Singh in claiming two key Zimbabwean wickets, while Bhuvi (1/35) did his bit with swing at the top and yorkers at the death; including a decisive final bowler in which he gave away only five runs bowling to a batsman with a century next to his name.
The Indian batting scorecard made for a scarily lop-sided reading, highlighting major failures. Murali Vijay, Manoj Tiwary, Robin Uthappa and Kedar Jadhav scored 1, 2, 0 and 5 respectively. Twitter, as unforgiving as ever, pointed out that the extras outscored their combined effort by two runs.
For Vijay, who was glad to be given a three-match ODI run, the early swing and nip off the pitch were tailor-made for him to use his acumen as a Test opener. Instead, he struggled for a while and eventually edged Brian Vitori to slip. Tiwary, caught on the crease with no feet movement, missed a straight delivery. Jadhav played away from his body and edged behind. And Robin Uthappa, seemingly India's immediate wicketkeeper-in-waiting, poorly misjudged a quick single to run himself out.
It's one down now. Only two more chances to go for those looking to make a decisive impression and close-in on Rayudu or put pressure on other positions. With a second-string team, India (and in no less part, Zimbabwe) at least appear to have given this series a competitive edge. But the battle within the battle, at this early stage, doesn't appear to be a competitive one at all.
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It was an unexpectedly exciting start to a low-key series. In fact, it felt refreshingly like a throwback to the 1990s: a fair contest between bat and ball; moderate totals that resulted in a tight finish; revised field restrictions closer to ODI factory settings; and little to separate the two countries, a la the era of Zimbabwe's Flower and Strang brothers.
In the absence of most of India’s senior players, who have been rested for this tour, Rayudu (unbeaten 124) and Binny (77 and two wickets) seized the opportunity to strengthen their first-team credentials.
This is not the bench
India's tour of Zimbabwe is as much a battle between two countries as it is between teammates, making it an intriguingly unusual proposition. It's a battle within a battle too. Previous tours to the country with experimental squads had a young, exciting and collaborative flavour to it. That appears to be missing this time around, replaced with a man versus wild mentality. Thrown into the African jungle, let's see who survives.
The focus has been placed on giving time to a worryingly average bench strength rather than grooming youngsters for the long-term future. Axar Patel and Sandeep Sharma are the only exceptions. Inexperience in the squad doesn't correspond to the average age. These players are not India's next generation of cricketers – rather, they’re the ones who haven't succeeded in cementing a spot for themselves in the first team.
In 2010 and 2013, young captains Suresh Raina (23 at the time) and Virat Kohli (24) led squads to Zimbabwe with average ages of 24 and 25 years, respectively. Now in 2015, Ajinkya Rahane (27) leads one with an average age of over 27.
Rayudu grabs his chance…
Rayudu, India's saviour at Harare, is nearly 30 years old. He has fond memories of Zimbabwe, the 2013 tour to the country being his maiden international call-up after toiling away for 11 years. Off-field problems and participation in the rebel Indian Cricket League stunted his growth before performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Mumbai Indians, in the Ranji Trophy for Baroda and for India A put him back in contention.
In the first ODI, Rayudu's maturity and focus stood out. He assessed the pitch and match scenarios to dig deep, see off Zimbabwe's inspired new-ball bowling (along with Rahane) and eventually carry India from a precarious 87/5 through to the end of 50 overs. The half-century milestone was greeted with a non-celebration, suggesting that there was much work to be done. The century milestone, though, was welcomed with a roar of satisfaction that even blasted out of television sets.
It was a statement of both intent and authority. If the Bangladesh series is anything to go by, the lone middle-order position up for grabs in the first team is currently Rayudu's spot. The rest are just vying to knock him off his perch. The irony of him being captained by Rahane shouldn't be lost on anyone either. The latter being dropped in favour of Rayudu during the tour of Bangladesh.
…But what about the others?
Other players to come out with major credit were Binny, Patel and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Binny may not be a fan favourite but his first real all-round performance, including a maiden ODI half-century, comes at a time when Ravindra Jadeja appears to have hit the end of the road. The timing couldn't have been better for him.
Patel's (2/41) spin overshadowed that of Harbhajan Singh in claiming two key Zimbabwean wickets, while Bhuvi (1/35) did his bit with swing at the top and yorkers at the death; including a decisive final bowler in which he gave away only five runs bowling to a batsman with a century next to his name.
The Indian batting scorecard made for a scarily lop-sided reading, highlighting major failures. Murali Vijay, Manoj Tiwary, Robin Uthappa and Kedar Jadhav scored 1, 2, 0 and 5 respectively. Twitter, as unforgiving as ever, pointed out that the extras outscored their combined effort by two runs.
For Vijay, who was glad to be given a three-match ODI run, the early swing and nip off the pitch were tailor-made for him to use his acumen as a Test opener. Instead, he struggled for a while and eventually edged Brian Vitori to slip. Tiwary, caught on the crease with no feet movement, missed a straight delivery. Jadhav played away from his body and edged behind. And Robin Uthappa, seemingly India's immediate wicketkeeper-in-waiting, poorly misjudged a quick single to run himself out.
It's one down now. Only two more chances to go for those looking to make a decisive impression and close-in on Rayudu or put pressure on other positions. With a second-string team, India (and in no less part, Zimbabwe) at least appear to have given this series a competitive edge. But the battle within the battle, at this early stage, doesn't appear to be a competitive one at all.
