After a comprehensive win by 59 runs in the series opener, India batting order crumbled against New Zealand in the run chase of 260 at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. Had it not been for the 70-run partnership between Radha Yadav and Saima Thakor, India would have been bowled out for much lower than 187. The 76-run win left former India captain-turned-commentator Anjum Chopra disappointed. She questioned the game plan as top-order departed within five overs.
"When the Indian team came to bat, it seemed from their body language that they were chasing 320. When you play the first, second or third balls, it should at least look like your bat is striking the ball and you are confident. Shafali (Verma), Smriti (Mandhana) and Yastika Bhatia got out and it seemed like the game would end very quickly," Anjum said on her YouTube channel.
"Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues batted for some time but if Saima Thakor and Radha Yadav had not stitched that good partnership, this team would have been bundled out for 140-150. So in which direction are we trying to go? We say the batting order is so good. So is this batting order able to learn from their small, small mistakes? I feel it's a huge question," she added.
Too many dot balls a concern
India lost eight wickets for 108 runs in 27 overs. Anjum feels that Indian batters should learn from how Saima and Radha approached the innings. Radha scored 48 runs from 64 balls whereas Saima contributed with a 54-ball 29. She reckons that the target wouldn’t have looked big had there not been too many dot balls.
"If the other batters had played like Saima Thakor and Radha Yadav, reaching 260 wouldn't have been difficult. In fact, the dot balls increased from the first match to the second match. It's wrong if you are playing so many dot balls in ODIs. Even if you convert 50 percent of the dot balls, forget 260, you would reach closer to 300," the 47-year-old pointed out.
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The series decider will be played at the same venue on October 29.
