Mumbai Indians Bang it in at Kotla
Over the last few years, Tendulkar has played many memorable innings in all formats of the game. In a country where fans love records, and pundits keep pointing out that it is not about records - yet, nonetheless quote records when analyzing - it is often that many classy knocks get forgetten.
1. India vs Australia 3rd Test, Delhi 2008.
Ricky Ponting had decided that they would bowl straight and bang it a bit short on this pitch which is slow and low, with uneven bounce. This will prevent batters from getting to the front foot and with the weird pace/bounce, make horizonatal bat shots dubious. Pinned! Then a 'carrot' ball would be slipped in fuller but at angles not easy for driving.
Sehwag was out early, Gambhir to his credit hung in and made 20-odd till lunch (went on to a double ton), and Dravid was out trying to drive a fuller (surprise) ball. Tendulkar walked in and played brilliant punch-off-the-backfoot shots. Sure horizontal shots were not on, but a compact backfoot game was on. He gave momentum with a lovely 68, by overcoming the initial dot-chess.
2. Australia again, 3rd ODI 2009
This time Sunny Gavaskar gave a hint, in his pitch report, that Sehwag and Gambhir could struggle. Tendulkar again played wristy shots to straight balls and gave a start chasing a modest score. However the chess that Yuvraj handled was unusually interesting- see my old post
3. Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Daredevils, IPL 2010
Gambhir put Mumbai into bat and left the field early with an injury. We cannot say exactly what he had in mind, but the Delhi bowlers bowled it at length or fuller, mixing slower balls. Tendulkar was up for it by coming down the track to pacers- to nullify the uncertainty of pace variations- and working it into the gaps on both sides. It went all wrong for Delhi with Mumbai posting over 200 for the second time in two matches.
Now when Mumbai bowled, Tendulkar's experience of being at the receiving end of the dot-chess at Kotla in the last few years, was translated to a plan for opponents. Moreover, if other teams study the way Mumbai bowled to Sehwag they will have a lot to gain (left-arm over the wicket to leg stump, and right arm over, angled into him- taking his off-side play out). Eventually, Sehwag still made a decent score (26 of 16) but scooped it to long off as Bravo angled it in.
The length though, was just perfect in general- bang it a little short of length and at varying speeds. Pinned! Cannot come forward and horizontal bat shots are dubious, unless you have a compact/wristy backfoot game like Tendulkar's.
The result? Malinga banged it in a bit- straight- and Dlishan plays all over and around trying to pull. AB de Villiers tried to square cut a ball just outside off and played on. The big guys were gone (Gambhir was not fit), and it was too much work for the others to chase 218.
Tendulkar has had some good outings at Kotla with the bat, but this might have been sweet, dot chessing as a captain with the ball!
Saumil
Mumbai
18 Mar 2010
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