It is a curious mix of the old and the new that will greet New Zealand on Sunday in Dharamsala for the first of the five One-Day Internationals.
The Indian squad that awaits them is definitely not the first XI. New Zealand’s nemesis in the Tests, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, are missing while first-choice seamer Mohammed Shami has also been rested. And just on the eve of the series, news emerged that Suresh Raina, back in the ODI squad after a year’s gap, will also not play the first match because of a viral.
But this is not a second-string team either. The big names are present. Mahendra Singh Dhoni is back. Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane – India’s other three batting bulwarks are also there. However, apart from these four, the other names in the squad are those that have been around the circuit but have yet to cement positions. And the mix of this old and new could make for a very interesting cocktail in the first three ODIs.
Time to make good of all that talent
One player who could steal the show is Manish Pandey. The 27-year-old is talented – there was never really any doubt of that, especially when at the age of 19 in 2008, he creamed 114 to become the Indian Premier League’s first Indian centurion.
But there were periods of frustration as well when it felt like that sparkling knock was a one-off and Pandey would join a long list of Indian one-hit wonders. Thankfully, the Karnataka batsman banished a lot of those doubts when he hit an unbeaten 104 in the last match of India’s ODI series against Australia in January, preventing a whitewash. Now, he should probably get an extended run and make good of all that promise.
Apart from Pandey, the spotlight will also be trained on pacer Jasprit Bumrah and all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Bumrah has had a dream start to international cricket. His unique action meant he made an immediate impact in Australia before playing the World Twenty20 and then going on the trip to Zimbabwe. Despite a plethora of wickets in Zimbabwe, Bumrah is still raw in international cricket and will need to prove that there is more to him than just the uniqueness of his action. Complimenting Bumrah in the pace stakes will be Dhawal Kulkarni and Umesh Yadav.
All-rounder Hardik Pandya is also in a similar situation. He started his international career with the Twenty20 Internationals against Australia and impressed in the Asia Cup in Bangladesh after that. However, after beginning the World Twenty20 with good performances against New Zealand, Pakistan and Bangladesh, his form tallied off and he was not picked for the tour to Zimbabwe or the T20Is against West Indies. Now he gets a chance in the 50-over format to cement the all-rounder’s spot.
Bowling could still cause headaches
While the batting looks strong, India looks susceptible in the bowling department. In the absence of Ashwin and Jadeja, it will be the veteran Amit Mishra and young Axar Patel who carry the spin-bowling load. Mishra has been a veteran in the Indian team but has never really got an extended run, while Patel has been efficient but never really set the stage alight with his brief forays in international cricket. These two also have to contend with the third spinner in the squad, Haryana’s Jayant Yadav.
Despite the new look about a largely unsettled squad, this is still a very strong Indian team and the likes of Kohli, Dhoni and Sharma should prove enough of a match for the battling Kiwis. For the new faces who have mostly been given opportunities against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, this is a gilt-edged opportunity to take a step up, in home conditions against a highly-regarded opposition.