Our Middle Order Should Have Controlled The Game – Madan Lal

Feb 3, 2019 at 12:02 PM

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Our Middle Order Should Have Controlled The Game – Madan Lal

After some excellent cricket, the Indian national cricket team suffered a disastrous defeat against New Zealand in the Hamilton ODI. The former Indian cricketer Madan Lal believes the middle-order should play better in that game.

On last Thursday (31 January), Indian batsmen failed to take the challenge in the perfect swing bowling condition. New Zealand pacers Trent Boult and Colin de Grandhomme dominated in that game and bundled out the visiting side for just 92 runs. None of the Indian batsmen reached the 20-run marks in that innings.

Madan Lal, Hamilton ODI
New Zealand bundled out India for 92 runs in Hamilton ODI. Image credit: Getty Images

Talking about that batting disaster, Lal claimed that the Indian cricketers should understand how Virat Kohli bats in this condition.

He told Sports Tak, “Maybe there were only a couple of players who got out because of swing. What happened with our players that they did not see the scoreboard. What Virat Kohli does is he keeps the scores in mind and then takes the game forward. He plays patiently and tries to score runs without hitting in the air. That helps him control the game.”

However, it was the dead-rubber game in that five-match ODI series as India has already won the series before that fourth ODI. After India won the first three games of the series, the Indian skipper Kohli has taken rest from this remaining tour.

Lal claimed that India missed him in that game. He further added that the limited-overs openers always scored runs, so this time the middle-order had the excellent opportunity to control the game.

The former Indian cricketer said, “Not a single batsman tried to control the game. He [Kohli] was definitely missed. When a player of his stature is not there in the team, it becomes very difficult to fill that slot. Our openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan have scored runs and have also won us matches. Our middle order should have controlled the game because they had a good opportunity.”

MS Dhoni’s experience is needed: Madan Lal

Madan Lal, Hamilton ODI
MS Dhoni Image credit: Getty Images

However, Lal is still confident with this team and doesn’t feel to require any changes in the side. Also, he believes that MS Dhoni is likely to return to the squad in the final ODI of the series. The senior wicketkeeper-batsman missed the third and fourth ODI of the series due to the hamstring injury.

Lal said, “MS Dhoni is likely to come back in the side for the final ODI. He has not played two matches and I think he must have recovered from his injury by now. His experience is needed. We’ll have to see who goes out… Dinesh Karthik or Shubman Gill.”

On Sunday, both teams will meet at Wellington to play the final ODI. Before that match, India’s assistant coach Sanjay Bangar has assured that MS Dhoni is fit for the final ODI.

4-1 is better than 3-2

Mohammed Shami, India vs New Zealand 2019
Indian cricket team Image source: Getty Images

Lal wants to see India as a winner in the final ODI. He feels that the 4-1 margin is better looking than 3-2.

He added, “We expected a 5-0 win for India. India must win the 5th ODI and 4-1 will look much better than 3-2.”

Apart from that Hamilton ODI, the visiting India has mostly dominated in this ODI series. In the first three ODIs of the series, the visiting side won each game by the significant margin.

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