How Gautam Gambhir's 8-batsman strategy at Kuldeep Yadav’s expense fell flat in Australia

How Gautam Gambhir's 8-batsman strategy at Kuldeep Yadav’s expense fell flat in Australia (BCCI Photo)

Australia have stopped India's winning juggernaut in white-ball cricket, comfortably sealing the ongoing three-match ODI series Down Under with a game to spare. India head coach Gautam Gambhir’s template of playing batsmen down to No. 8, at the expense of a specialist bowler, worked well in the subcontinent. It has sort of fallen flat on its face in more bowling-friendly conditions.

The next 50-over World Cup would be played in South Africa in two years’ time, in conditions pretty similar to what the Indian team is currently facing in the Southern Hemisphere. Should this series defeat be a wake-up call? Will Gambhir change his strategy?

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For the second game on the spin, Kuldeep Yadav didn't find a place in the playing XI. If a greenish surface was the reason in the first ODI in Perth, Adelaide Oval’s shorter side boundaries ostensibly was an impediment, from the Indian team management’s perspective, to play the left-arm wrist-spinner. Australia, however, played leg-spinner Adam Zampa who ran through India’s middle-order and returned with 4/60 from his 10 overs. When the hosts batted, Kuldeep’s absence was felt, especially during a 59-run sixth wicket partnership between Cooper Connolly and Mitchell Owen that took the game away from India.

A second-string Australian side exposed India's bowling frailties. Jasprit Bumrah has been rested for this series. Kuldeep is the team's second-best wicket-taking option behind the master fast bowler. That he is not a reliable batsman is seemingly going against him away from home. It's strange but it's true.

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The tweaker didn't get a game in the five-Test series in England also, because the team management preferred to load the side with multi-skilled (read, bits and pieces) cricketers, shunning a genuine wicket-taker. There at least, India had to fill a Virat Kohli-sized hole in their batting order and the extra cushion was understandable. But going with three all-rounders — Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy — plus Harshit Rana in the second ODI against Australia was contrary to “fearless cricket” — Gambhir’s buzzwords. Reddy bowled only three overs in Adelaide.

“If you look at the blueprint of any of Gambhir's teams since he started coaching T20 cricket, it (eight batsmen) is a big part of how he likes to set up,” India's assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate had said earlier this year. Of course, it was said in T20Is’ context, but in ODIs also, the head coach likes to stick to the pattern. A little bit of flexibility might help.