Former India batsman Mohinder Amarnath was quite critical of West Indies' bowling especially during the end overs after it was brutally exposed in the second ODI of the ongoing series in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday (December 18).
The visitors were hammered left, right and centre by the likes of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant as they conceded a mammoth 387/5 in 50 overs, eventually losing the game by 107 runs.
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"As the series is nicely poised for the decider, it is clear that West Indies are in with a chance only if their target is under 300," Amarnath wrote in his column for TOI before the third ODI in Cuttack on Sunday (December 22). "Their bowlers were unable to restrict India and if they need to do the job on Sunday, they need to be far better, especially in the death overs. They were bowling at one length with no variations in line or pace. This would not help on a wicket like the one in Vishakapatnam since it was an even-paced track."
While the middle-order has been shaping up nicely, Amarnath singled out the bowling of wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav as India's biggest plus from Vizag.
"For India, there are many reasons to be happy, Kuldeep Yadav's hat-trick being a case in point," he wrote. "Admittedly, it is easier for a bowler to be clever and experimental when defending a mammoth total. But Yadav is very much part of India's two-spinner strategy, and when he feels his variations and loop are going to plan, it augurs well for the team."
The 69-year-old also heaped effusive praise on Mohammad Shami, who has once again proved this year that he is an equally good 50-overs pace bowler.
"Mohammed Shami, too, deserves credit because it was his double hit in one over that stopped a very productive partnership," Amarnath wrote. "Shami is really a calmer and more wily bowler than he was a few months ago, which once again is a good sign for the team."
"For the West Indies, their bowling is truly an area of concern. Pace variations and finding the right length is of crucial importance, especially against a batting line-up as strong as India's."
(Inputs from TOI)
