India still a force at home in the limited-overs game – Opinion
It seems like the world is crashing down on India, where after a series of losses at home against the touring teams, the Indians are under the guillotine. Their loss to England in the Test series sparked protests all over the country, demanding the skipper
MS Dhoni’s head.
Former Indian cricketer, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bishan-Singh-Bedi-c48133, was particularly annoyed by Dhoni after India’s loss in the recent Test series, his statements criticising Dhoni said:
“He's is not a Test skipper, you need a skipper who's worthy of his place in the eleven. Tell me is his 99 of any use to the team. Dhoni should feel lucky that he's still there. If http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sunil-Manohar-Gavaskar-c91863 had lost as many Tests, they wouldn't have
lasted this long. He hasn't done enough to continue being the skipper. He should have been eased out after the World Cup win. I would make http://www.senore.com/Cricket/V-Kohli-c2737 the captain. He's got a sharp cricketing brain. You got to trust the young blood. This is a young man's game.”
Such a reaction is quite common in Asia where defeats in cricket are taken second to none. After winning the opening match, things went awry for the hosts as they had no answer to England’s staggering form in the next two encounters, where the Indian batsmen
were manhandled by their guests, while the bowlers were not spared either, as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013’s Test captain played every shot in the book against anyone who came running in at him.
However, why cannot the fans admit that their side was outplayed by a better rival, because there is no doubt in the fact that England came to India well prepared and then dominated the hosts to win a series after more than a decade.
India’s now next Test assignment would be a home series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 early in 2013.
While India have been thumped in the Tests, let us not write them off in the T20s and ODIs because they have some of the finest limited-overs players in the world.
With the likes of Kohli and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 have the ability to neutralize any side on a given day.
After their victory in the first T20 against England, they have managed to send a message to their critics that they are still pretty much a threat to anyone who crosses their path.
This is something their arch rivals, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mumbai-c820 terror attacks.
While India have been kept busy by England, Pakistan are preparing well for the upcoming series.
Having said that, India are the toughest side to beat at home and being ODI champions they are certainly not going to allow foreign nations to run over them without putting up a fight.
Whatever happens in the coming days, let there be no doubt that India will have a lot to offer in the limited overs game.
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