Rajkot, Jan 11: Different conditions, different opponents but MSD & Co will look to carry on the momentum from the last ODI against Pakistan in New Delhi to the first match of their One-day series against England at the newly-built Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) Stadium on Friday. They would also look to somewhat settle a score after the Test debacle against the Englishmen.
India can also look for some solace in history, not that it matters though, as England has not won an ODI in their last 13 attempts here, with 12 defeats and one tie which was the 2011 World Cup match in Bengaluru. England's last win over India in India was in Jamshedpur on April 12, 2006.
However, while history does favour the hosts, they have their problems in the present. The opening conundrum is one of them. In the last 10 ODI innings, India have tried three different pairs, with even Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir opening in three games, but the firstwicket mark has never crossed 50 with the scores reading 19, 25, 0, 7, 31, 8, 29, 17, 42 and 19.
With numbers staring him in the face, Dhoni said, "The stats suggest that for quite some time we have not got off to a very good start. Yes, the openers have been scoring runs on and off, but we have not been able to get a good partnership between them as one of them has been getting out. We are hoping to get good starts in this series. Ajinkya Rahane is the new opener. He has played on and off and done decently well."
One factor which might work in India's favour is that they are coming from a highpressure series against Pakistan while England are coming from a break. The warmup games the visitors played did not go well too and skipper Alastair Cook was quick to admit that the challenges lying ahead were formidable.
"I missed the first warmup game but I think we improved a lot in the second. In a way, it showed the challenge we are going to have on our hands. Our skill levels will need to improve a lot. It's going to be hell of a challenge like the Test series in a way and we have to do something that no English side has done for a while," said Cook. He added: "Clearly, we are the underdogs in this series but if you look through our side we have got a lot of firepower and world class players. For us to win this series, those world class players and everyone in our squad will have to play out of the skin."
The conditions should also help the Indians, at least in the opener. The track at the SCA Stadium is a batting beauty where more than 300 runs were scored and chased successfully regularly in Challenger tournament last year. Gambhir and Rahane, if India persists with opening pair which played the last ODI, can flourish here as both are very good at hitting the ball on the up and through the line.
The fast outfield and short boundaries are an added advantage. If India are off to a good start here, then the middle order can take wings. Thus, no matter what combination the teams go for, it will be a battle between the batsmen of both sides with bowlers playing the supporting role. And if it is a battle between just bats, then it will really take some effort to beat these Indians in their own den.
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