SECOND ODI - REVIEW
Paytm ODI Series - IND Vs ENG
Venue - Pune
England - The world champions of white ball cricket played like champions. This was a knock out for them & the way they went about the business, shows why they are the champions. Second ODI was an absolute "Run Feast," where 650+ runs been scored in a day. Three lions roar & bounced back to level the series. The star players of the match were - Jason Roy,Jonny Bairstow,Ben Stokes for England & K.L.Rahul,Rishabh Pant,Hardik Pandya & skipper Virat Kohli for India.
K.L.RAHUL - GAINING GROUNDS
This ODI series is proving to be a blessing for K.L.Rahul. After a fairly average T20 series, Rahul had a really good outing in this match,scoring a century & laying the solid foundation for the team. Now, back to back good scores for him - First game half century & now a century. This will do,a world of good to his confidence & these are really good signs for Rahul & indian cricket team.Still,Rahul's century(108) was not enough today.All eyes on him - in the decider.
PANT & PANDYA - SIMPLY SENSATIONAL
Rishabh Pant's sublime form in 2021 & fearless attitude continue & he was simply sensational. In this match also, he was on all attack & unsettled the english bowlers completely. He was literally toying with the bowlers & scored invaluable 77 runs, at a staggering strike rate of 200.
Hardik Pandya - The Power Striker, was in his elements. It was a Pandya Power show in the death overs, where he blown away the opposition with his power striking abilities, hitting four humongous sixes & scoring 35 off just 16 deliveries. Pant & Pandya were simply sensational in this match & their contribution was absolutely invaluable.
STRATEGICAL MISTAKE BY TEAM INDIA
This was a flat-deck, a batsman's paradise & a nightmare for bowlers. Well, this applies to both the teams. On this bowler's graveyard, men in blue looked one bowler short & to everyone's surprise Hardik didn't bowled at all,especially when the spinners - Krunal Pandya & Kuldeep Yadav was getting some serious beating. On such hard-pitch, where everything is going in favor of batsman, team just cannot go with four bowlers only. Any player can have a off day at the office & in such situations captain must have options to rotate, which skipper Virat hadn't in this match - a strategical mistake by hosts.
ENGLAND BOUNCED BACK WITH A STUNNER
England knew, they can't afford to loose this match but it was a steep mountain to climb & couldn't afford to repeat the same mistakes of first game of the series. In the first fixture also, score was very similar & english team crumbled. But, the story was very different in this match. Jason Roy(55) & Jonny Bairstow(124) meant serious business, as if they were scripting the story for England. They both were firing all cylinders, which meant no respite for bowlers. Roy scored a quick fire half century,before a deadly mix-up with Bairstow.
Then arrived the match winner - Ben Stokes. Earlier, he was in the supporting role but the moment indian spinners came, he smashed them all over the park & literally snatched the game from Team-India,single-handedly. He looked rock solid all through his innings & was ready for a deserving century. But unfortunately, he perished at 99 while edging one from Bhuvi. Although, Prasidh Krishna picked two quick wickets in quick succession, but it was too late for the hosts - the damage was done.World Champions - Bounced Back !!
WHY SO MUCH OF FUSS - ABOUT VIRAT ?
There is so much of buzz about indian skipper - Virat Kohli's century, on social media. The question is - Why ? Fans, spectators,experts of game & even ex-players talking so much on Virat's ability to convert his half-centuries to centuries. Virat the player is doing wonderfully well & he himself said - "I don't play for centuries or personal milestones". He is in good form, scoring runs for the team very consistently. Sooner or later, century will come. Indian skipper is doing really well, contributing with the bat in team's winning cause. Let's not make any more fuss about this & let him be in his own space - The Century is just round the corner !!
FINAL VERDICT
England registered an emphatic win over men in blue, in an all important fixture by six wickets, to level the series. Now we're heading to a series decider - a penultimate game of series - expected to be an absolute thriller. Everything to play for. More drama, more power hitting & more stunning performances. Superb setting for "Finale".
FINAL SCORES:-
IND - 336/6 (50.0)
ENG - 337/4 (43.2)
Player of The Match :- Jonny Bairstow
Written By :- Saksham
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