Long Read: India’s 1000 one-dayers, one decade at a time
The 50-over has lost some of its old pomp and pride, but it remains a format close to the heart and history of the country’s emergence as a cricketing force, financially and sportingly. The history of this format runs in parallel with the comeuppance of India. In the onslaught of T20s and IPL, a renewed attention on Test cricket, it might no longer be the favourite format, but few incarnations of the game have rolled out as many memorable moments as this format in its heyday, or the chills and the thrills. A short history through the eyes and lives of those that have played in different eras.
BABY STEPS (1974-1979)
Synopsis: India stutters and stumbles as they grapple with the ways of the new format.
Played: 13, Won: 2; Lost: 11
Three years after the accidental birth of one-day international cricket, India, the future cradle of this format, made baby steps into the unknown. There, though, was no sense of history-making or excitement, or a sense of foreboding that the format was to change the landscape of the game in the country, for most of the eleven debutants. “Looking back, and compared to the boys now, we were naive,” says Madan Lal, then just a 23-year-old overzealous youngster.
There were graver concerns, for both the country and its cricket team. After mounting expectations before the series, they stumbled to a 3-0 defeat in Tests and worse of all, were skittled out for their then lowest Test score of 42. While they were still in England, there was tumult back home. Vijay Balla, a giant bat erected in memory of India’s series wins in England and West Indies in 1971 were defaced by tar in Indore. Soon upon landing, captain Ajit Wadekar lost his captaincy, whereupon he retired. The nation, meanwhile, was descending into a state of Emergency.
There, though, was curiosity. From the outside, it looked like a compressed Test match. They laid plans accordingly, before their leap into the dark at Leeds in June 1974. A brief and rough plan was sketched. “How do you prepare for a format you haven’t played? Or even watched. The general approach was that we would bowl as normal, but start playing attacking shots a bit earlier than in the Test matches. There were a few more men near the ropes, but at the same time slip-fielders and other catchers. More than batting and bowling, we struggled in setting fields,” he remembers.
For first-timers, they batted with stoic clarity. In the first game, they compiled a modest 265 in 54.3 overs (of 55 overs), powered by Brijesh Patel’s 78-ball 82. But they could not contain England with the ball. “We got a taste of the format and we liked it. Obviously, we had to trial and error to be successful in a new format. We knew that the more we played, the better we would get in this format,” Lal recounts. [READ FULL STORY]
Things were really clear, he (Hooda) has played a lot of domestic cricket, so he knew the situation really well. So we were having little conversations and setting little goals (in our partnership). His confidence was spot on though. Loving with how things are going right now, I'm enjoying my time in the nets as well. Deepak just told me a few things, asked me to play the flick shot towards the mid-wicket region, the one I play in IPL. But I wanted to remain not out. It was difficult for the bowlers to grip the ball due to the dew. It was a little slower in the afternoon, but it became easier for the batters with the dew settling in.
Just a matter of time before India wraps this up. And it has taken them just 28 overs. And it's a 4. All over. India seals the victory. Take 1-0 lead in the series.
India just 11 runs off victory and the lead now. The last over yielded 6 runs. Will this one be the final over? SKY and Hooda are content on taking singles to keep the scoreboard ticking. IND 170/4.
Edge and India are riding their luck. Hooda looks to drive on the up but it straightens and runs away fine off a thick edge. India very very close. 157/4 after 24 overs.
That's another four by Suryakumar Yadav. Suryakumar glances and it's another easy boundary. Escapes to fine leg. That's 150 up for India. IND 151/4 after 22 overs.
Welcome to international cricket Deepak Hooda. What a shot. That's excellent timing by the debutant for a four. 9 off the 20th over. India comfortable. IND 137/4 after 20 overs.
Suryakumar Yadav has taken it upon himself to ruin West Indies' moment of happiness now. That's two back to back boundaries for him. Hosein is just getting hit all over the park by SKY. 10 off this over. IND 128/4 after 19 overs.
And the bizarreness continues. Very very unfortunate for Pant. It was extremely straight from Surya and it gets a nick of the bowler's boot while Pant was out of his crease at the non-striker's end. That's number 4 down. IND 116/4.
India are 3 down as Kishan is the one to depart now. Straight to deep backward square leg and the fielder makes no mistake. Won't really matter in the long run but that's an opportunity missed by the young batter. IND 115/3 after 16.4 overs.
What a smart shot by Kishan. Superb presence of mind. That's all the way over the boundary for a six. Stayed inside the line and guided it over the keeper and it went all the way. That's another 4 by Pant in the same over. Off drive and straight to the midoff boundary. India are chugging along nicely. IND 113/2 after 16 overs.
It's more of the same for West Indies now. Virat Kohli has come to the crease and has carried on marauding runs. Two back to back fours to start and he reaches 5000 ODI runs in India. And gone!! He is caught out. What an unusual innings from Kohli. Pulls one and that's 2 big wickets for Joseph. IND 93/2.
And is this gone? West Indies think it is. So does the umpire. And India review. Looks very close. The review is gone and the on field decision stands. Rohit is gone. Great innings. IND 84/1 after 13.1 overs.
It's just boundaries after boundaries by Rohit. Most of them has been perfectly placed and this one isn't different. It's a sweep now. He is showcasing every shot that he has in his quiver now. 7 off the over. IND 84/0 after 13 overs.
And that's 50 for Indian skipper Rohit Sharma. What a knock this has been. It's been that easy for the captain and for India. And that's another 4 down the ground. This is just one-way traffic now. IND 77/0 after 12 overs.
50 up for India in the last over and this over begins with a 4. West Indies players do not know which way to look. Pulled to deep square leg. And another one is poked towards the boundary. And that's a 6. What a pull shot off the front foot. Rohit is batting at 46 now. Just a matter of time before he reaches 50. IND 67/0 after 10 overs.
India are making this run chase too easy. This delivery from Roach has been nonchalantly lofted over the infield by Rohit for another 4. He is dealing in boundaries at the moment. And another. And that's another lofted shot. Dances down the track and this one is gone for another 4. IND 48/0 after 8 overs.
That's another four. Quick hands and this one has raced to the boundary as well. The West Indies are leaking runs at the moment. Kishan is taking taking full advantage of a West Indies attack which appears toothless. IND 40/0 after 7 overs.
Kishan gets in on the act and a short ball ny Holder is punished for a four. Waits and muscles the pull shot through mid-wicket. And the last ball of the over gets another four. This time from Rohit. Again a perfectly timed shot. India cruising along. IND 35/0 after 6 overs.
Too straight again and that's punished for a 4 by Rohit. A flick on the leg-side and there's no stopping that. Poor from Roach but India won't be complaining. IND 26/0 after 5 overs.
What a beautiful shot by Rohit. The timing is on point and it's driven straight down the ground for a 4. Delightful drive. Not a lot wrong with the delivery. Just that the timing was exceptional. India 18/0 after 4 overs.
Time for the chase now. Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan open for India. Roach will lead the attack for West Indies. Roach is getting a little bit of movement to start. 2 appeals already. One for caught behind and one for LBW. And Rohit replies to the appeals with a timed shot to deep square leg for a 4. India 6/0 after 1 over.
4/49 by Chahal is the first instance of an Indian spinner taking four wickets in an innings in ODIs since Chahal's 4/51 against SA in India's opening game in WC 2019 in Southampton.
Definitely, very good to be back in Indian colours. Heartening to get the opportunity today. Bit of turn and bit of slowness to start with was a treat for me. Me and Yuzi enjoyed bowling today. Hopefully we can get this quite easily. Most teams would prefer starting with seamers. But this is what I have veen doing in domestic cricket as well. I have been bowling 7th, 8th overs and so on in the powerplay. I am very comfortable doing this as well. We should be hopefully get this easily.
The members of the Rohit Sharma-led Indian cricket team wore black armbands in the first ODI against the West Indies here, to pay respect to the legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar, who died on Sunday morning in a Mumbai hospital.
Mangeshkar, 92, one of the biggest music icons of the country, died due to multiple organ failure earlier in the day, according to her sister Usha Mangeshkar and doctors treating her.
(READ MORE)
Trilokchand Raina, father of former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina, died on Sunday following a prolonged illness. “He was battling with cancer for the last one year,” a source told PTI.
(Read more)
All over. That's the end for West Indies. They are all out for 176. Chahal gets his fourth wicket of the day as Joseph is caught by Suryakumar Yadav.
And that's a maximum. Joseph clears the boundary rope. A flighted delivery and it's absolutely smoked for a 85-metre six. WI 173/9 after 42 overs.
And there goes the last piece of resistence for the West Indies. Krishna gets Holder. Inside edge and Pant makes no mistake. West Indies down to last man. WI 167/9.
Holder is just 1 run off his fifty and he gets to it with a shot straight to deep mid-wicket. Great innings considering the circumstances. And Allen falls. Wasingdon gets his 3rd. That's the end of a gritty partnership.
Holder, who brings up six, and Allen come together for a 50-run partnership between them. The duo has batted with confidence despite the collapse earlier and played some impressive strokes.WI are 129/7 after 33 overs.
100 up for West Indies in the 29th over. Holder and Allen building a much-needed partnership for the visitors. With Sharma now the full time captain, India suddenly have two strong leaders. So far so good. Much better intensity in the field compared to the SA tour. WI are 106/7 after 29 overs.
Prasidh gets his first wicket. West Indies are in free fall Akeal Hosein is gone without scoring.
Akeal Hosein c †Pant b Prasidh Krishna 0
The BCCI has announced cash rewards for the victorious India U19 team. The following is the breakdown of prize money -
Members of India U19 team – Rs 40 lakhs each.
Members of the Support Staff, India U19 – Rs 25 lakhs each.
Another one bites the dust. Third successful review of the game from India as Chahal picks up yet another! Big appeal for caught behind turned down, the bowler is confident and after a discussion, Rohit signals for the review. On a good length, draws Brooks forward, turns sharply through to Pant behind the stumps. UltraEdge shows clear spike as ball passes bat and West Indies are 6 down!
Shamarh Brooks c Pant b Chahal 10
Back-to-back wickets for Chahal. he cleans up Kieron Pollard and the West Indies skipper is back in the hut for a golden duck. A quick 101 for Chahal. He bowls the googly first up, Pollard fails to read it and plays the wrong line, and the ball crashes onto the stumps. Half of the Windies side dismissed.
Kieron Pollard b Chahal 0
Chahal into the attack and strikes immediately. Pooran misses the sweep and there's a huge appeal for lbw. Given not out on the field, Rohit hoes for the review and it is all RED. Pooran will have to make a long walk back to the pavilion. 100th ODI wicket for Yuzvendra Chahal.
Pooran lbw b Chahal 18
Poor fielding from Prasidh Krishna. Pooran sweeps it fine, the ball spins on the second or the third bounce to beat Krishna. Ishan Kishan covers from backward square puts in a dive at the ropes but touches the ropes in his effort.
Raj Bawa anchoring India to their fifth U-19 World Cup title would have been the cherry on the cake. But when he got out in the 43rd over for a 54-ball 35, victory was within reach. The Indian colts were chasing 190 in the final in Antigua on Saturday and a bit of nerves crept in, as a couple of wickets fell in quick succession. But the excellent Nishant Sindhu was there, showing maturity beyond his years and guiding his side home with a cultured 50 not out off 54 balls. Back-to-back sixes from Dinesh Bana sealed it in a blaze of glory. Read
India U-19 boys showed supreme skill and age-defying maturity to lift a record-extending fifth world title. From skipper and batting mainstay Yash Dhull to star of the title clash Raj Bawa, take a look at their stories Indian Express carried during the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup at North Sound, Antigua. Read
Two wickets in over for Washington Sundar. he has trapped Darren Bravo. It was given not out, Sundar was convinced and Rohit take the review, and the decision was overturned. Bravo departs for 18.
Darren Bravo lbw b Washington Sundar 18
Soft dismissal. Sundar gets the breakthrough. Turn for Sundar again, and the ball stops on the pitch as King looks to push it on the backfoot, ends up lobbing it to Surya Kumar Yadav at short mid-wicket, who takes a smart catch to his right.
Brandon King c Suryakumar Yadav b Washington Sundar 13
Cracking cover drove from Bravo Jr. A flighted delivery around off from Sundar and the southpaw was up to the task, drives on the half-volley as one hand comes off the handle, manages to time it well and place it to the cover fence.
Brilliant first over from Washington Sundar, who is back with a more rugged look. He gets turn first up! On a good length, grips sharply from the middle stump as Bravo looks to tap it to the on the side, struck on the pads. Two runs from Sundar's first over.
Siraj is keeping one end tight, while Prasidh is leaking runs from the other. The lanky seamer has conceded two boundaries in his third over. The first one was unfortunate. He banged in short at around 140 Kmph, Bravo takes his eyes off as he's early into the pull shot, takes the top edge and goes away to the fine leg fence. The second was a cracking shot from Bravo Jr. He thumps the drive through mid-off and covers for his second boundary of the over. Superb timing.
Second maiden from Mohammed Siraj. He has kept one end tight. Good stuff from the speedster, his probing length is making it difficult for the West Indies batters.
Brilliant shot from Brandon King. Krishna offered width, and King drives on the up and gets it through the gap between cover and mid-off. Races away to the fence for his second boundary.
India have a wicket in the powerplay. Siraj strikes after being hit for back-to-back boundaries. Nips back in from a length, Hope looks to drive this again through the off side but gets an inside edge that crashes onto the stumps. Shai Hope is gone for 8, and Siraj's SIUUUUU celebration is back.
Loosener from Prasidh Krishna from the other end. Swing first up, gets some away movement, allowing Brandon King to open his arms, lofted over cover for the first boundary of West Indies' innings.
Good first over from Mohammed Siraj. He has started with a maiden over. Every single delivery was bang on a good length and was bang on with his executions.
Indian colts have defeated England by four wickets to win the ICC Men's U-19 World Cup for the fifth time in a row.
We are all set for the 1000th ODI. West Indies openers are in the middle. Mohammed Siraj has the first new ball. Let's get down to the business of playing cricket.
India cricketers are wearing black armbands to mourn the passing of singer Lata Mangeshkar.
For more than seven decades now, the name Lata Mangeshkar has been synonymous with extraordinary talent and artistic excellence. Even though she slowed down about two decades ago, after a highly successful and prolific career, few Indian artistes can dream of ever matching her achievements, star power, or mass appeal. Such is her impact on Indian music that Mangeshkar can not only be unequivocally called an exceptional vocalist but also one of the greatest Indians of all time. Read
India XI: R Sharma (c), I Kishan, V Kohli, R Pant (wk), S Yadav, D Hooda, S Thakur, W Sundar, M Siraj, Y Chahal, P KrishnaWest Indies: B King, S Hope (wk), S Brooks, D Bravo, N Pooran, K Pollard (capt), J Holder, F Allen, A Joseph, K Roach, A HoseinA look at #TeamIndia's Playing XI for the 1st ODI.Live - https://t.co/NH3En574vl #INDvWI @Paytm pic.twitter.com/SYFrR5LZ5F— BCCI (@BCCI) February 6, 2022
India win the toss and opt to bowl first.
Rohit Sharma: We will bowl first. Looks like a good pitch, won't change a lot. Will get better to bat under the lights. I am happy to be back, playing for India, good to be back on the field. It's been a couple of months since I played cricket. It's a historic day in Indian cricket, been a long journey for India. We have seen a lot of ups and downs. As a team, we have grown over the years, and we'll continue to do that. We had a few positives Covid cases, so we have some new faces.
Pollard: The toss is 50-50, we have to assess the conditions and bat well. We have come out well and bring out the results. The guys have to adapt to different scenarios. We had a series a few days ago, so we need some mental adjustment. We need to bat long and rotate the strike. There are a couple of changes in the team, Roach and Allen are back. Darren hasn't played a game since last July, so it's an exciting phase for few of these guys.
After being ignored for nearly five years, Deepak Hooda one day asked Irfan Pathan why wasn’t he getting his chances to play for India? Hooda believed that he had it in him to play for the country, but things weren’t going his way. Irfan, the former India all-rounder had a one-liner to pacify his junior in the Baroda team: “Apna time aayega”. Eight years after making his Baroda debut, Hooda’s time eventually came, when he was picked for the upcoming three-match home ODI series against the West Indies. Read
Deepak Hooda is making his ODI debut.