Team India's young blood

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Young players in Team India have proved that they deserve their place. The team has now several options when it comes to one-day cricket, and that's a good sign. India's win at Indore proved again that new players can be depended upon. Chasing 289 without Virender Sehwag and Mahendra Singh Dhoni is a tough ask. I think India's chase was fantastic considering that the batting line-up was a bit inexperienced today. Debutant Robin Uthappa was asked to open and he fit the bill perfectly. I think his knock was fantastic. He gave India a great start and never looked in trouble. He was never nervous and played his natural game. Uthappa's confidence helped India to maintain a steady run rate. For support Uthappa had the most calculating batsman in the game: Rahul Dravid. The captain supported the debutant and took the pressure off him. Dravid was Uthappa's....

Indian batsmen failed

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India has already won the ODI series against England, but the defeat at Jamshedpur means they can't be complacent. The track was perfect for batting but they lost. The team is trying too many experiments, and that proved costly today. India should have played at least one more experienced medium pacer. But I would not blame the bowlers. The batsmen failed on a track that was perfect for batting. Indian batsmen didn't apply themselves and played poorly. It was an ideal wicket for stroke-playing, and players should have used this to establish themselves. Venugopal Rao let go a great opportunity to prove himself. M S Dhoni put up a fight, and he was great. When he started batting I thought he would go for 150 or 170. He had to curb himself because of early loss of wickets. It was a restrained knock by his own standards. ....

Players play for pride

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It was very sad day for the players as after waiting for half of the day the match was called off. Robin Uthappa was expected to make his debut and even some of the newcomer like RP Singh and Munaf Patel would have been looking for a nice outing in the middle. However, it is never easy for a newcomer to wait in the dressing room not knowing when the match would start while the established players have the fun. Today also Pathan and Dhoni enjoyed a fun ride in the helicopter and it was good to see them in a relaxed mood. Though many people have been saying that after winning the One-Day series India will take things lightly but I can confidently say that players play for pride more than anything else. Sehwag had also pointed out that India will now look at....

England is a one-man batting army

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England have been totally out played in the One-Day series though Team India, too, is not in the best of the form. The visitors have not been able to bat for the full quota of 50 overs even once in the series and Kochi match proved no different. In today's match Kevin Pietersen showed that England is a one-man batting army with an occasional support from Andrew Flintoff. Pietersen played a good knock on a slow and turning wicket but was out to a very rash stroke. When he was at the crease, Indian bowlers were totally clueless and hoping for a mistake from the batsman. Pietersen obliged them with a pre-mediated sweep shot that ballooned up in the air and Yuvraj took an easy catch. Flintoff also went back soon and after that it was clear that England innings would came to a premature end. ....

What it takes to win

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You just need two batsmen to win a match - India proved that again in Goa. The top order collapsed yet again, but India won because two men saved the day. Virendra Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Mohammed Kaif, Irfan Pathan failed but Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina held on. Yuvraj was fantastic! He played one of the best knocks in his career, his high arm action giving him control over the ball. Yuvraj just plays his natural shots and he has tremendous confidence. He is the player who holds the team; he did that in Pakistan and he is doing it again in this series. The other great find is Raina, who proved that he is a survivor, and a fighter. Players like Raina come from small towns in India - perhaps living in a hostel - and to remain in the team they have....