India’s early steps were mixed but have been dealt with. The opener against Australia was tricky. The second outing against Afghanistan was smooth. And the twin victories augur well as the Men in Blue winged their way to Ahmedabad for Saturday’s much-anticipated clash against Pakistan.
The venues were as diverse as they come. Chennai with its slow turf and sweaty heat, and Delhi with its batting track and good bounce, have been accounted for while a contest vested with historical angst and extreme hype awaits Rohit Sharma’s men.
Against Afghanistan a few boxes got ticked. While Jasprit Bumrah’s four for 39 and Rohit’s 131 headlined the eight-wicket win, there were other micro-positives. Ishan Kishan dropped anchor and refused to be carried away by Rohit’s splendid batsmanship. At times it is easy to imbibe the vibe from the other end but Kishan preferred to bide his time before playing a few shots in his 47.
