“Winning is a habit that we want to continue and don’t want a let down on intensity. But we need to give game time to our reserves with just seven games remaining before the World Cup,” India’s fielding coach R Sridhar said, ahead of India’s fourth ODI against New Zealand in Hamilton on Thursday.
His penchant for hitting double hundreds is universally acknowledged and skipper Rohit Sharma will be eager to make his 200th appearance for India a memorable one on Thursday.
With the series already sealed, Rohit, who has a good record as stand-in captain and has three double hundreds in ODIs to his credit, would aim to tighten the noose around New Zealand in what could be another batting-friendly track at Seddon Park.
If India can get a 4-0 lead, it will be India’s biggest series win (across formats) in their 52 years of touring New Zealand.
Sridhar is expecting some of the reserve players to get much-needed game time, with the aim of making every player match-ready before the World Cup.
The fielding coach is happy that the core team is ready and “all pieces are falling into place.” He also said the bowling unit had taken itself “10 notches higher.”
Sridhar said: “We shouldn’t be in a situation going into the World Cup where the main XI has played and the reserves have not got enough game time when (it might happen that) they have to suddenly play a crucial game during World Cup. That is what the team management will be thinking I am sure,” Sridhar said.
He added: “There is no better place than New Zealand to simulate the conditions of England in June. So we would like to surely create a situation where we give game time to our reserves.
“All the pieces are falling together. It’s quite an experienced unit and if you see the top six players, they have all been there from 2013 Champions Trophy (in England)…
“India was always a fabulous batting country but now bowlers have started picking wickets throughout different phases of the match. Whether it’s Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar Kumar) and (Mohammed) Shami or the leggies (Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal), they have done it in South Africa, against Australia and now here…
“They (Kuldeep and Chahal) have picked 100 wickets between them in 24-25 games which is magnificent.
“The most important phases of the game has been taken care of. Then we have excellent death bowlers in Bhuvi and (Jasprit) Bumrah.
“The experience of the side, combined with fitness and bowling, has gone 10 notches higher, making it look like a complete unit and it augurs very well for us going into the World Cup.
“This team under Virat Kohli and now with Rohit Sharma as captain has played some of its best (ODI) cricket in last three years.”
The status of Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s hamstring injury was not clearly known, but according to team sources, there was nothing much to worry about.
A decision on Dhoni’s availability will be taken before the toss on Thursday.
In case Dhoni is available and the team management avoids tinkering with the combination, he will walk in as Kohli’s replacement. Kohli has been rested for the remainder of the tour.
But there is also a chance that the immensely talented Shubman Gill may get a look in.
Kohli himself had said of the 19-year-old: “I wasn’t even 10 per cent of what he (Shubman) is, when I was 19.”
In case both Gill and Dhoni are included, Dinesh Karthik could well be rested.
Meanwhile, Sridhar explained how India’s fielding has improved dramatically.
A ‘blindfold technique’ to increase reaction time, leather balls of various weights to gauge trajectory in breezy conditions and a simulation machine for slip-catching have made the team a remarkably improved catching unit, he said.
Match starts: 7.30 am (IST)
