India won fairly easily in the end, and it was a match that was set up extremely well by the bowlers on a surface that had help early on and, in fact, right through. Yet again, Abhishek Sharma made it easy with some outstanding batting in the power play.
India now leads 2-1, and unless something dramatic happens, yet another series win is on the cards.
However, that doesn’t mean that all questions have been answered. In fact, the questions still remain, and time is now at a premium.
Shubman Gill did spend a decent amount of time in the middle. And that, for me, is the big takeaway. Gill, let us be honest, did not look convincing. The lbw shout early on looked out, but the thinnest edge saved him. Thereafter also, some good shots were meshed with multiple plays and misses. Despite all of it, being out there should help the Indian vice captain.
Take the Virat Kohli example, or for that matter, Rohit Sharma. In Australia, Kohli did not score in the first two games. In Sydney, in the third, he spent time out there and scored a half-century. The times spent made it completely different in the ODI series back home. Rohit too struggled in the first and second games in Australia.
From the third game on, it was a different story. Gill was making a comeback after three weeks and needed some time out there. Now that he has got it, one expects things to change in the next two games. If that doesn’t happen, it will be a matter of real concern going into the New Zealand series in January.
For Surya Kumar Yadav, things aren’t working for some reason. It isn’t as if he is looking bad while batting out there. Or that he isn’t able to middle the ball. The shots he has played are excellent, and he doesn’t look a man out of form or out of sorts. And yet the big runs aren’t coming for a while now. This is what tests patience. Resolve and temperament. Surya is a mentally strong person who knows that things just take one game to change. At the same time, he will also know that there aren’t too many games left ahead of the World Cup.
India sent Tilak Verma in at number three last night in Dharamshala. Surya came in at number 4. Is this the template, then going into the World Cup? That the skipper will bat 4, and number three could be a floating option with Tilak, Axar, or someone else? The next two matches should give us an idea.
Coming back to Surya, the shot he got out to last night is one he has played consistently all along. Slightly better timing, and it would land in the stands. In this case, it was an excellent catch, and that’s what happens when things aren’t going your way. When you are in sync and good form, a mishit will go for a six. And when things aren’t going well, a fantastic catch will be taken.
Surya needs to stay calm, and India will hope things will turn around in the next two games. It is now critical for there isn’t much time left.
