Cuttack: These are intriguing times as India opts to deploy only two primary fast bowlers while ensuring neither exhausts their allotted overs. Hardik Pandya serves as the third seamer, entering the attack as early as the sixth over. Additionally, the decision-making process regarding Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja presents its challenges, further complicated by the inclusion of Varun Chakravarthy. The bowling strategy exhibits remarkable flexibility, with Chakravarthy being introduced as early as the ninth over, resulting in England facing four overs of spin during the initial Powerplay.

Despite concluding with a total of 304, this figure marks the lowest ODI score recorded at the Barabati Stadium since 2011. After reaching 200/3 in the 35th over, England's finish appeared underwhelming. This decline can be attributed to two primary factors: England's struggle to capitalize when the pace of the ball was reduced, and the effectiveness of Jadeja's bowling during the middle overs. With figures of 3/35 on a pitch where other bowlers conceded over five runs per over, Jadeja once again demonstrated his vital role in India's bowling dominance on subcontinental surfaces.

Jadeja's renowned precision is well-documented, as are his deliveries that either drift with the arm or turn just enough to instil uncertainty in the batsmen. Compounding the challenge for batters is Jadeja's knack for not allowing them any opportunity to recover from setbacks. England experienced this firsthand, as Jadeja was instrumental in securing the two most critical dismissals for the team—Ben Duckett and Joe Root.

Duckett's dismissal was particularly significant, occurring at a moment when he appeared virtually invincible. Jadeja, however, skillfully manipulated the ball's trajectory, delivering a series of straight, wide, and full-length deliveries before enticing Duckett with a wider offering. Unable to resist the temptation, Duckett attempted a powerful shot but ended up dragging the ball to Hardik Pandya at long-on due to the wide angle created by Jadeja. The subsequent dismissal was unusual, as Jadeja seldom claims wickets from drives. Root, however, fell victim to this, marking one of the more unremarkable dismissals in his career. He faced a slow, looping full-length delivery that seemed destined for the stands. Clearing his front leg, Root aimed for the ball, but it failed to surpass Virat Kohli positioned in the deep.

The timing of these dismissals was crucial, as they shifted the momentum in favor of India. Duckett was in such good form that it appeared England was on track to score 150 runs within the first 20 overs, indicating a marked improvement given their tendency to falter despite strong starts. Root's ability to consolidate was vital, and England seemed to be recovering after the loss of their openers. Between the 10th and 40th overs, England accumulated 155 runs but lost four wickets, including those of Jos Buttler and Harry Brook. Consequently, the responsibility fell on Root to guide England to a successful conclusion. Jadeja's intervention during this critical phase left England struggling.

This pitch does not exhibit the wear and tear typical of Test matches that would naturally favor Jadeja. Nevertheless, his extensive experience in this format allows him to maintain accuracy while employing subtle variations in pace. India's bowling performance in Cuttack was not particularly sharp. England managed to score 181 runs in 23.5 overs against pace and 121 runs in 26 overs against spin. Although Chakravarthy dismissed Phil Salt, his lines were not tight, nor were those of Axar Patel. Jadeja's ability to make a significant impact amidst these challenges must be reassuring for India.

Read Also: Deepti Sharma Eyes India Role After UP Warriorz Captaincy Opportunity

Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!

HOW DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE? CHOOSE YOUR EMOTICON!