The year began for India on a triumphant note when India won the back to back ODI series in SL and NZ with an impressive scoreline of 4-1 and 3-1 respectively.
However that fizzed out a bit after the T20 debacle. Though India won one more ODI series in WI 2-1 which should not have taken place on the first place and then the tri-series in SL beating SL. The picture in the 2nd half doesnt pose a rosy scene. India lost out in the first round of CT and then lost the home series to a depleted 3rd grade Australian team 2-4.
The series win against SL has reinstated the impressive looks to the overall record for the country and it is the team with best win loss ratio in the year. 65% wins is an impressive stat.
The batting looks good as always with some scintillating knocks played this year but the ones that stand out are as below :
- 175 by Sachin Tendulkar vs Australia in Hyderabad.
- 163 * by Sachin Tendulkar vs NZ in Napier (??)
- 146 by Virender Sehwag vs SL in Rajkot
- 150 by Gautam Gambhir two times vs SL in Colombo and Eden Gardens.
First two were sensational knocks. Both times Sach looked good for a 200 in ODIs which just would have been apt for the man.
The top order looked settled with Sachin, Viru and Gambhir forming the top 3 followed by Yuvraj, MS and Raina to follow. Yusuf Pathan fizzed out and Jadeja progressed well to the development of a batting alrounder. In 2010 the competition for this place would be intense between Jadeja and Pathan brothers.
Kohli has demonstrated tremendous maturity to threaten Raina if he doesnt mend his batting ways and idiotic ways to get out.
Rohit Sharma and Dinesh Karthik are no hoppers and they should not be taken seriously.
Concerning department is the bowling. Ishant Sharma was the biggest let down of the year. He flopped miserably with leaking runs at a millionaire's pace. Though he is highest wicket taker for the country this year, the cost for every wicket is expensive. Zaheer and Nehra form the crux of the bowling attack and the 3rd pacer depends on the conditions India play. When swing conditions are in, have Pehelwan else he is just a dibbly dobly military medium pace bowler.
Mishra is back to the sidelines and Ojha has not done enough to threaten Harbhajan who has had his share of ups and downs.
Fielding, well is disappointing and this is when there are fresh legs.
There is a year left to the World Cup and its in the backyard. Bowling and fielding would be the focus area in 2010. With no major series coming in the first few months of the year 2010 the focus should be on finding an express pacer who can rattle the batsmen and also take wickets by keeping the runs per over mark low.
All Izz Bell with the team on the exteriors.
Scorelines :
SL 4-1 (5)
NZ 3-1(5)
WI 2-1(4)
Tri series 2-1 (3)
CT 1-1 (3)
Aus 2-4(7)
SL 4-1(5)
Played 32
Won 18
Lost 10
N/R 4
