After T20I Rohit and Co eyes on ODI code in England

By Our Special Correspondent

The last time India fielded Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah in a single ODI, the world was yet to be rocked by Covid-19. There is a strong possibility that the wait will continue with injury fears for Kohli in particular, but it will show where India stands 15 months before the next 50-over World Cup.

In many ways, India's ODI game revolves around this trio in batting. As in T20Is, they are relying heavily on their top three, including KL Rahul - who has missed the series with injury - to bat in the middle-order. But that is all in the past. They have pressed for a reboot in white-ball cricket and with the T20 side adopting an attacking approach, the series against England is an ideal opportunity to see how well they can adapt in ODIs.

Unlike in T20Is, where they brought in new personnel, the selectors did not show much intent on their selection. At the top, at least for now, they continue to rely on the Dhawan-Rohit combination, which have scored 5186 runs at an average of 45.49 at a run-rate of 5.31.

They are easily one of the most effective opening pairs of the last decade, but the question is whether the run-rate belongs in the current era. For context, the Virender Sehwag-Sachin Tendulkar combination who batted ‘between’ 2002-2011 had a run rate of 6.16 at an average of 42.13. Gautam Gambhir-Sehwag pair scored at 6.42.

With the next World Cup at home where flat decks are the norm, the question is whether India has the right personnel to make the most of the conditions. Not that India has any other options. With Rohit's place all locked up and Prithvi Shah and Ishan Kishan available as options, it will be interesting to see how India persist with Dhawan.

"For us, white-ball cricket, understanding how to play, playing new guys. Fifty-over’s are an extension of T20. Compared to T20 cricket, ODIs may take less risk but you have to take it. We can't play ODIs because we don't think they are a priority," said captain Rohit.

As was the case in T20Is, the middle order has been a concern for India in ODIs with the team entering the World Cups in 2015 and 2019 without the No. 4 ranking. But India is looking at Shreyas Iyer. As an option, in Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh Pant, they also have errant implementers in the late format.

For a team that likes to take wickets mostly in the last 10 over’s, at some point they will have to change strategy and as Rohit mentioned, India now treat ODIs as an extension of T20s. In terms of conditions, they can get ideal ones in the UK to try the template.