Keep aside the final couple of matches in the series and India were challenged, even pushed to a corner, by the Windies. The visitors came back from a eight wicket-loss in the first ODI to tie and then win a game to level the series, in the process dishing out a much needed defiance to India who were virtually unchallenged at home in recent times.
That the last time India lost an ODI series at home was way back in 2015 - against South Africa - should be a fair indicator of where they stand as a team at home in the fifty over format.
The top three batsmen - Virat Kohli and the openers, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan - combined with Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav have contributed to India’s dominant form in ODIs since the Champions Trophy. They had lost just three ODIs at home before this series since the Champions Trophy last year and were barely challenged.
The presence of five incredibly good players had virtually masked a lot of issues in the Indian line-up. The shoddy middle-order and lack of back-up seam options to Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Bumrah were identified as areas of concern before the Asia Cup. In the multi-nation tournament they found no answers to these issues but a tough Windies series has put to rest a few conundrums.
Presence of Khaleel a Huge Bonus
Khaleel Ahmed, who was probably not even in the fray until the Asia Cup, has suddenly jumped the pecking order and is third in line behind Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar to make up the pace bowling department.
Khaleel finished the series as the second highest wicket-taker with 7 wickets in 4 matches at an average of 24.42, and was impressive with his ability to bring the ball back into the right-handers.
What Khaleel adds is a much needed variation to the pace attack. With Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar, Mohammad Shami, Umesh Yadav and Shardul Thakur all offering right-arm pace, Khaleel brought in a left-arm angle, one which India’s own batsmen had a tough time contending with at the Champions Trophy. He is certainly inexperienced but has a mature head in his shoulders, something that augurs well for India who are in search of more match-winners in the bowling department.
Khaleel's addition has prepped up the bowling and added the x-factor to the pace arsenal. While much of India's middle-overs in bowling is often about the spinners, Khaleel's variations and queer angle add a much need sting to the attack, one which could be the difference between a semi-final spot and a World Cup trophy.
The Jadeja - Chahal Poser
While Kuldeep Yadav is all but sealed as India’s first choice spinner in ODIs, the second spinner’s slot, which was occupied by Chahal until recently, had been a poser. While the Royal Challengers Bangalore leggie has a knack of picking up wickets, of late, he has conceded way too many runs to top batsmen which put India in a fix and prompted them to recall Ravindra Jadeja to the ODI side.
Jadeja hasn't set the world on fire but has been tidy at one end which has helped Kuldeep and Khaleel go full tilt from the other. The Saurashtra spinner bowls pretty much stump to stump and keeps his end quiet which is a quality India have missed. Add in his batting and electric fielding and Jadeja is a complete package, one which India’s fragile lower order sorely needs.
If Jadeja is the second spinner at the World Cup, it would also help the Indians on tracks where the ball stops on the batsmen like he showed at Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday.
The wrist spinners are likely to be ineffective here, which makes Jadeja a prime candidate to don the frontline spinner's role.
The Headache at Number 4
A massive headache for Indian selectors was the continued under-performance of their no.4 batsmen. From Yuvraj Singh to Ajinkya Rahane to KL Rahul, they had tried everyone at 4 without much success. Before the series, Virat Kohli identified Rayudu as the right man and clearly mentioned that the Chennai Super Kings batsman would get a long run in the position.
The confidence of his skipper seemed to have worked wonders for Rayudu who was in supreme form this series. Aside from a hundred at the Brabourne stadium, he cracked a half-century and provided intelligence and composure at 4. That he adapted to match situations and played accordingly is perhaps India’s biggest takeaway from the series.
With Rayudu potentially sealing the no.4 position, India can move on to fix their other middle-order positions without worryingly overly about the one position that has haunted them since the last World Cup.
(Rohit Sankar is a freelance cricket writer. He can be reached at @imRohit_SN)
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