On Tuesday India’s bowling coach Bharat Arun accepted that it will be a big challenge for the Indian team to make a comeback in the 3-match series against New Zealand after losing the first ODI in Mumbai.
The hot favorites India faced a demoralizing six-wicket loss by the high-spirited New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday. Now, the hosts will try to bounce back in series in the must-win 2nd ODI in Pune on Wednesday.
Addressing the reporter during the pre-match press conference, Arun said, “We look at it as a big challenge right now. New Zealand, in all fairness, compete exceptionally well. They had a fantastic partnership and they went on to win the game. It’s a bigger challenge for us to come back. We know we have plans in place and it will be a good testing ground for the team on how you come back from behind and do well in the series.”
Indian cricket fans were surely not expecting New Zealand to produce an upset against India in the series-opener at the Wankhede but the visitors, playing their first match since the Champions Trophy, did it in outstanding style.
It took a record-breaking 200-run partnership between Ross Taylor and Tom Latham, which took the game away from their challenging opponents, putting the Blackcaps on the verge of a rare series win in India.
Arun said the team management has been reworking on their plans for the style of New Zealand batsmen for the second match. He said, “We have taken a good look at the videos of how they play and from where they sweep. Definitely, the plans will change for these batsmen.”
The spin duo of Chahal and Yadav gave away 125 runs and managed only one wicket, will be keen to make some changes in order to find answers for Latham’s sweeps and reverse sweeps at will.
Arun lauded Kuldeep and Chahal, he said, “These two wrist spinners (Kuldeep and Chahal) have done their job, they have time and again taken wickets. Sometimes it does happen that you get the desired wickets or you have plans in place but it doesn’t work out but then if you look at the overall percentages, I think they have very well shaped up and one odd match shouldn’t trouble us.”
He further added, “These two boys have done exceptionally well for us and we would like to take a good look at them before we come up with the combination for the 2019 World Cup. So far they have shaped exceptionally well.”
Here is the video of the press conference:
https://www.facebook.com/IndianCricketTeam/videos/1643132212375132/
