The former’s selection over younger batsmen had been questioned and Dhoni’s zest for the game after giving up captaincy had been subject of great speculation. How long this stretch lasts is unknown, but if both maintain their fitness and zest, they could continue till the 2019 World Cup. While a preponderance of youngsters brings zing, energy and enthusiasm to a side, the value of experience cannot be undermined.But that is in the future. Rahul have both been short of runs though neither has looked badly out of form. More significantly, what the recent past has shown is the strength of ambition in the Indian team.. We all know how fickle cricket can.S. The beleaguered Eoin Morgan must be wondering what more his team need to do to beat India in the final ODI on Sunday.L. Rahul have both been short of runs though neither has looked badly out of form.As it happened, India finished on a monumental 381.
But any hardship was obscured by a gung-ho approach that is unwilling to accept defeat easily.All said, a sweet dilemma for the captain and coach as this establishes the depth of talent that is now available.In the first match, India were tottering at 63/4 at one stage before Kohli and Kedar Jadhav put together a stupendous double century partnership that ultimately made reaching a stiff target of 351 look a stroll in the park.It is pertinent to remember that a key factor in the West Indies’ triumph in the 1975 World Cup final was 39-year-old Rohan Kanhai. This became too big for England to overhaul despite Morgan’s heroics, but wouldn’t have been possible without the bowlers excelling at the ‘death’, adding up to a splendid team effort. Both were under some duress.Of course, this depends on how Dhoni and Yuvraj themselves see and respond to the challenges ahead. Series won, the team management could want to try out someone from a bench though breaking up a winning combination is never easy.
In the earlier two games, England put up an admirable fight.Both Dhoni and Yuvraj have worked hard on their fitness and seem intent on seeing off the `home stretch’ to their careers on a high. But it wouldn’t be impetuous to say that India’s performances in the preceding matches have been near flawless. In fact, their captain might have believed his side played well enough to win both before being cast aside aside quite ruthlessly by Virat Kohli & Co.It didn’t help matters that neither bothered the scorers too much in the first match.In the run chase at Pune and while defending a total in Cuttack, there were periods when India looked to have been put out of the contest.The accolades were largely reserved for `oldies’ Yuvraj and Dhoni not without reasons. But with India in deep crisis in Cuttack, both returned to form in a breathtaking display that had fans in raptures and the England team on their knees.I will resist the temptation to say that a clean sweep in the ODI series looks imminent. Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh too got associated in a brilliant double century stand. This may not necessarily have a bearing on performance. The question is how. I would venture that the circumstances here were more critical considering the in-form Kohli had been dismissed early and the onus was on two senior players.
Too much is sometimes made of a player’s age. In 2007, 36-year-old Adam Gilchrist won the trophy virtually off his own bat, and in 2011, 38-year-old Sachin Tendulkar was India’s most prolific run-getter. Neither of the preceding wins was easy. This makes the interchange of players possible — if at all needed — without worrying unduly about the outcome. Indian batsman Yuvraj Singh is greeted by M S Dhoni after his 150 runs during 2nd ODI Match against England.Openers Shikhar Dhawan and K. The series has been lost, of course, but there some prestige can Turbomachinery bearing for sale still be recovered. In both these matches, the situation was reversed with such aplomb as to leave the opponents frazzled. Going by the ways things have panned out yet, who knows, Sunday could be their day!It is conceivable that either Dhawan or Rahul may have to make way for some other player, possibly Ajinkya Rahane. Openers Shikhar Dhawan and K.The only area where India have been found wanting is at the top of the order.L.At Cuttack, the score read 25/3 before M.