ODI World Cup: Why India should bowl first against Netherlands | Cricket-world-cup News

Irony is blowing in the Bangalore winds. Before the start of the World Cup, it had seemed that India were better off chasing, trusting their batsmen. The bowling form wasn’t exactly clear: there was hesitancy about using Mohammad Shami, concerns about Jasprit Bumrah’s touch and endurance after return from injury, the insence on using Shardul Thakur for his batting ability, and whether Hardik Pandya will last and be effective across 10 overs in Indian conditions.
But now, a wondrous role-reversal has occurred. Such has been Indian seamers’ venom under lights, and the spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav’s skill, that now India look a side suited to defend totals with aplomb. And we are now at a stage, just before the semi-final, talking about how they should test their chasing skills and bowling upfront effectiveness in the game against Netherlands on Sunday.
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When Mohammad Shami came in for the injured Pandya in the game against New Zealand, he immediately struck rhythm, grabbing a five-for in the game India bowled first. From then on, they have been batting first in the following games.
India are averaging an incredible 8.63 with the ball while bowling second. Bowling first, they average 25.95, which although is exceptional, is worth testing again before the knockouts.
In the past, it’s at the knockout stages when they are slightly pulled out of their comfort zone that India have shown a tendency to crumble. Be it in 2015 or 2019, they finished as the top placed team in the group stages, only to bow out in the semi-finals. As they prepare for another semi-final against an opponent that has caused them trouble in big-ticket events, there is still one more box India would be happy to tick-off – – to bowl first and be prepared for all possibilities against New Zealand.
India are averaging an incredible 8.63 with the ball while bowling second. (PTI Photo)
Rahul Dravid didn’t want to be seen fussing too much about the scenario. “We’ve done both things. To be honest with you, we have bowled first, we batted first in this tournament. I think that’s been the really good thing for us in eight games. I think in the first five we batted first and then we had to chase in the last three. So, we’ve actually done both things and we’re pretty comfortable with both things. So, I’m not too worried about it,” Rahul Dravid said on the eve of the Netherlands game.
While India have bowled out opponents in each of the three matches they have bowled under lights, they have done so on three out of the five innings when bowling first. So for a bowling unit that has taken only 34.5 overs vs England, 19.4 overs vs Sri Lanka and 27.1 overs vs South Africa, bowling second at the Wankhede in the semi-final against New Zealand wouldn’t bother them much.
But it would indeed help India to go into that semi-final with some overs behind their back while bowling first. What if New Zealand win the toss? To no-one’s surprise, they will chose to bat first to avoid facing Indian seamers under lights. If New Zealand end up with a big score and given the bowling disposal they have, they are capable of stopping India’s juggernaut.Most Read
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In three of the four matches at the Wankhede Stadium this World Cup have been won teams batting first, with seamers enjoying bowling with the new ball under lights. In another game that Australia won with the bat, even Afghanan seamers caused considerable damage in the first 20 overs before Glenn Maxwell intervened with the greatest ODI knock of all time.
With no sixth bowling option, India have zero room for any of their five bowlers to have an off-day. Which is why should India win the toss against Netherlands on Sunday, they should break the trend here in Bengaluru and bowl first, just to get some confidence behind them. If Netherlands win the toss, they might anyway ask India to bowl first, to avoid chasing under lights.

Dravid said the team will be comfortable chasing or defending. “We’ll have a look at the wicket and see what we need to do. There are arguments both ways of batting first, putting up a score and hopefully setting the tone that way. And there’s also an argument of chasing as well, which means that you probably have to bowl in the sun and stuff. But look, again, the toss is not in our hands, it’s not going to be in our hands in the semi-finals. And I think we are comfortable both ways. We will have a look at the wicket today and come tomorrow and have a look at the wicket as well. And then, you know, whatever call Rohit makes, we will go with it,” Dravid said.