The dust over the disastrous Test series has hardly settled, but India will be taking on England in a one-day series in a couple of days’ time. While the core of the team remains the same, a few ODI specialists have joined the squad, and the Indian team would be hoping for them to play a role in trying and reversing the side’s fortunes in England.
Suresh Raina: It’srather ironical that a lot will be expected of the left-hander. Over the last year, Raina has struggle d in ODIs as well as T20s, but has retained his place owing to his experience. In fact, it was in England in 2011 that Raina’s Test career was stalled after his technique was found out. Since, Raina has found it difficult to reestablish himself in the Test team. As mentioned earlier, in recent times, he has struggled in the shorter formats as well. However, with all the batsmen who played in the Tests being in incredibly poor form, all eyes are on Raina. Can he engineer a turnaround with his bold batting and energetic fielding?
Umesh Yadav: Manyexperts opine that he should have been in the Test squad itself, but was ignored as rookie pacers were preferred over him. In the meantime, he tasted success for India A against Australia A with the ball and bat as well. Yadav would thus be confident as he features in the one-day series. He has the pace to trouble batsmen, but he needs to work on his control in the shorter format. Yadav has tasted success before for India, with the Test team on the disastrous tour of Australia. He will need to find a way to succeed in the one-dayers as well.
Sanju Samson: He is one youngster who is highly rated in Indian cricket. He may have come to prominence playing for Rajasthan Royals in the destructive IPL, but has proved his worth in domestic cricket as well for Kerala. Only 19, Samson possesses most strokes in the book, and is very easy on the eye. He has already played some big knocks in first-class cricket, and has developed a reputation of someone who can perform under pressure. Samson was one of India’s stars during the quadrangular ODI series in Australia, which they went on to win. Samson will be keen to transform his form at the higher stage.
Other fresh legs in the ODI squad: Karn Sharma, Mohit Sharma, Ambati Rayudu and Dhawal Kulkarni
--By A Cricket Analyst
