India’s winning formula: Breathing hostility, no loose balls and piling pressure

It was a god-sent chance for Kuldeep, who during the post-match press conference in Ahmedabad, had admitted that he is eager to bowl under the lights.“Mujhe maza aata hai second innings mai bowling karke… meri baat sunte nahi Rohit bhai to mai kya karu (laughs) (I enjoy bowling in second innings but Rohit doesn’t listen to me),” Kuldeep had said.

On Sunday, during India’s 100-run win over England in Lucknow, Kuldeep walked the talk. Not just Kuldeep, every Indian bowler played their role to perfection, defending a low total. The challenges were unique—they were protecting 230, there was little scoreboard pressure to lean on, the dew was pounding down and England could finally see some light at the end of the tunnel.

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But India’s bowlers were relentless. From the first to the last over, they breathed hostility, gifting few loose balls, piling the pressure and putting England through a crucible of fire and snuffing out all escape route. The pacers made the pitch look like it was assisting them, the spinners made it resemble a turning track. It was the illusion India’s bowlers created.

The biggest enemy for the bowlers was dew. During innings break, with India being restricted to 229 for 9, the main question was whether the bowlers would defend the total with dew around. At the start, Rohit Sharma, patrolling at the short cover, was wiping the ball every time he got it. Ravindra Jadeja and wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav – would be aiming to pitch their heavily tweaked balls. But would not dew hamper them?

The spinners rose to the challenge. Kuldeep and Jadeja, bowling with a wet ball didn’t give away a single freebie. They were immaculate with their lengths and deceptive with their lines. But it was not the spin pair that broke the back of England’s batting line-up.

Chief architects

Instead, it was the pace duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, who put England on the mat. Bumrah set the tone; Shami consolidated on it with a spell of 4-1-5-2. England opener Dawid Malan played a couple of delightful shots against Mohammed Siraj, but struggled against Bumrah. Twice he cut him into half before making him hack one back into the stumps. The next ball, he pinned Joe Root in front.

Siraj was a tad wayward. So Rohit brought Shami. In that particular spell, Shami not only shattered the stumps but had also shattered England’s confidence. Ben Stokes, who has been included in the England team to strengthen them, is proving to be the weakest link. Stokes, seemingly in a hurry, tried to muscle every ball. Frustrated, he swung in ungainly fashion to see his stumps shattered. With his next ball, he shattered the stumps of Jonny Bairstow too.

Soon England capsized. Skipper Jos Buttler got a peach from Kuldeep. Shami, in his second spell, got rid of Moeen Ali, who looked miserable during his 31-ball stay. Jadeja joined the party as he deceived Chris Woakes.

If Stoke’s played a bizarre shot to get out, then England think-tank would be scratching their heads after watching Liam Livingstone’s wicket. Dinesh Karthik on air, couldn’t help himself from commenting: “Livingstone must have played better sweep shots than this, but this right here is abysmal.”

England’s batsmen imbibed little lessons from their Indian counterparts. India too were reeling at 3 for 40, with Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer dismissed cheaply.

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In the first two overs, it was clear that the pitch didn’t have much pace or carry. There was no sign of real pace from David Willey’s over. Chris Woakes’s first ball kept really low and was collected by the keeper close to his shoe laces.

But Rohit seemed to be batting on some other wicket. Initially circumspect, he kicked on later. Unlike in earlier games, he controlled his stroke-play. But as innings wore on, he expanded his range and looked in ominous touch. His 91-run stand with KL Rahul stabilised India’s innings, though Rahul, like Kohli, got out attempting a big stroke.

Enter Suryakumar Yadav, who freewheeled to an energetic 49 off 47 balls, thus pushing India’s total beyond 200. Bumrah too chipped in with valuable runs, as India ticked another box in the campaign by defending a low score under lights.