Change,the only constant

The last one-dayer in Napier was unusual for Gautam Gambhir. For the first time in 70 ODIs,he got a Did Not Bat against his name on the scoresheet.

The last one-dayer in Napier was unusual for Gautam Gambhir. For the first time in 70 ODIs,he got a Did Not Bat against his name on the scoresheet. The reasons behind Indias most consistent player not featuring among the top-six batsmen that took the field on Tuesday were several the blazing start by openers Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag,the calculative MS Dhonis well-deserved elevation to the No 3 slot,the in-form Suresh Rainas measured approach at No 4 and the presence of slog-over specialists Yuvraj Singh and Yusuf Pathan at Nos 5 and 6 left Gambhir padded up in the dressing room.

It was that kind of a day when,at the fall of every Indian wicket,Gambhir proved to be the second choice. With at least two options for each position for the first seven batting spots,juggling is a hobby with the think-tank. Like an expert rummy player,the cards are thoughtfully moved around depending on the status of the match. Regular pairs are discarded and new sequences formed to get that perfect hand. In this fast-moving,fluid world of limited-overs cricket,India dont want to get decoded by their rivals by having a predictable strategy. A new game means a fresh blueprint,drawn in pencil with an eraser at hand.

Breaking conventions

On the eve of the second game,Sehwag turned the good old logic of having a stable batting line-up on its head by suggesting that change was the only constant. The word rhythm has always held a positive spin in cricket,but trust Sehwag to change convention. Sometimes if you are going in a rhythm,its not good for the team. We did that when we chased 16 consecutive wins. At No 3 we had Irfan,or Dhoni,or somebody else, he said.

Sehwag was at the crease when Dhoni walked out as the surprise one-drop batsman in Napier. He said the New Zealanders were foxed by the anchor in a pinch-hitters grab.

Watching MS walk out,they were surprised. They didnt know what to do. They thought that MS had come to hit,but he played sensibly and batted through the overs, he said.

New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori conceded they were duped by the Indian ploy,but added,We understand therere going to be changes but our bowling plans remain pretty similar no matter where a batsman comes in. Its just up to us to make sure we execute those and thats all I can ask of the bowlers.

It wasnt a view that spread across the team since all-rounder Jacob Oram was intrigued by the adaptability of the Indian batsmen. They seem to be changing their batting line-up for every game. I was surprised to see the way Suresh Raina played. I know what he can do at No 3,but here he did the same lower down the order too, he said.

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This trend of shuffling batsmen has been going on for some time. In the 16 ODIs India have won in the three series,there have been four openers,five one-drop batsmen,four No 4s,five No 5s and four No 6s.

Gone are the days when the lower order batsmen had a grudge against the openers,who they said had it easy because of fielding restrictions and a hard ball that raced to the fence. They blamed their low average on limited batting opportunities and the pressure of batting in the slog overs.

Seeing Gautam take off his pads without facing a ball in the game that India won,the middle-order men would have had smiles on their faces.

McCullum injured

Vettori has also admitted that the thumb injury to Brendon McCullum has unsettled the teams balance. It is not great news. Obviously,the balance that Brendon brings into the squad is undermined by his ability not to keep, Vettori said.

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But Pete Peter McGlashan has been in pretty good form for the Northern Districts. So we are hoping he can replicate that and it doesnt unsettle the team too much, Vettori added. Asked if McCullum would be fit for the game,Vettori said he was optimistic. We seem to have had a lot of fitness tests with him and he seems to have come through them all. I would err on the side of optimism with him but we just have to wait and see just how it goes.

Sandeep Dwivedi

Sandeep Dwivedi is the Sports Editor at The Indian Express. He is one of India's most prominent sports journalists, known for his deep analytical insights and storytelling that often goes beyond scores and statistics to explore the human and cultural side of sports. Professional Profile Role: As the Sports Editor, he leads the sports coverage for the newspaper and the website. Weekly Column: He writes "The Sports Column," a weekly feature where he provides sharp, narrative-driven perspectives on the biggest sporting news of the week. Podcast: He is a frequent contributor to the "Express Sports" podcast (Game Time), where he discusses evolving trends in cricket and other international sports. Areas of Expertise While Dwivedi covers the entire sporting spectrum, his work is particularly noted in the following areas: Cricket: He provides extensive coverage of the Indian National Team and the IPL. He frequently analyzes the leadership styles of figures like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir. He is known for tracking the transition phases of Indian cricket and the evolution of specific players like Kuldeep Yadav and Rishabh Pant. Athletics & Olympic Sports: He has written extensively on Neeraj Chopra’s rise in javelin, the nuances of Indian shooting, and tennis legends like Sania Mirza and Leander Paes. Human Interest Stories: A hallmark of his writing is his focus on the struggles and backgrounds of athletes, such as the sacrifices made by Shafali Verma’s father or the "silent battles" of veteran players like Cheteshwar Pujara. Notable Recent Work & Themes Leadership and Dynamics: Recently, he has written about the dynamic between Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, arguing that personal friendship is not a prerequisite for team success. Sports & Culture: His articles often intersect with global culture, such as his deep dive into the 100-year legacy of the Harlem Globetrotters and their role as American soft power during the Cold War. The "Grey Areas" of Sport: He often addresses sensitive topics like the mental health of cricketers post-retirement, the "outrage industry" in sports broadcasting, and the impact of fan-wars on the game. Tenure and Experience Dwivedi has been with The Indian Express for over three decades. This experience allows him to provide historical context to modern sporting events, often comparing current crises or triumphs to those of previous generations. You can follow his latest work and columns on his official Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More