Ind vs Ban: For ODIs, India drop pace for variety

While Ishant Sharma was picked for the team in whites with three other genuine pacers in the likes of Umesh Yadav, Varun Aaron and Bhuvneswar Kumar, the ODI attack wore a utility look.

A difference in the pace attack for one-dayers is clearly evident with Mohit Sharma, Stuart Binny and Dhawal Kulkarni making it to the squad and Aaron and Ishant missing out. It has been a trend in the Indian team for quite some time now.

Since the Sri Lanka series at home, India have experimented with its pace attack in a rather strange manner. While Mohit, Umesh and Bhuvneshwar have been the mainstays, Ishant and Aaron last wore coloured clothing for that series only.

Mohammed Shami is an exception as he was the world’s most successful bowler last year but an injury has kept him away from the international scene for quite some time now.

If you look at India’s squad for the Australia tri-series, Mohit and Binny were preferred over Ishant and Aaron. (Ishant played only one game in the entire series which was a wash out.)

When India last toured Bangladesh, the conditions were suitable for seamers. Binny returned with the best figures for an Indian bowler in ODIs as he took six wickets for only four runs. Once again, India have opted for an attack that has more pacers with swing and seam at their disposal than pace. Umesh, who was called the first genuine pacer India have produced by West Indian great Andy Roberts, is the only pacer who doesn’t dependent on swing.

Even the UP pacer Bhuvneshwar likes to swing the bowl rather than relying on pace. He has been out-of-favour for quite some time now but given the conditions in Bangladesh, he may strike form.

Binny and Kulkarni present a strange scenario. While Kulkarni, who has played four ODIs and averages just over 23, has been in every squad since the home series against West Indies, Binny has made it to the playing XI more often. Kulkarni last played against Sri Lanka last November but was selected for Australia tri-series and was also seen with the World Cup squad.

Going by the way India have picked its squad for ODIs, one can say the selectors and captain are not looking for tearaway seamers.

As the forecast for Thursday in Bangladesh gives signs of rain, India will be hoping that the seamers make the most of the overcast conditions. If not every pacers, then atleast the ones who have genuine seam movement.