Poor tactics from India and Game Awareness esp in First 10 overs

[vice]

* Players fishing for deliveries.

* Kohli once again not playing with straight bat, shuffling across the stumps and trying to flick just like CT

* Rahul once again too timid, fishing for a 6th stump delivery

* Why didn't they step out of the crease to counter early movement?

* Kohli's setup was too basic to read and he fell in the same trap once again.

* Either play out the first 10 or employ a pinch hitter to counter attack

* Pandya/Pant victims of their instincts, both could've executed higher percentage shots - both fell to Santner pretty much the same way.  This was a lack of game awareness - both felt the pressure after the dot balls and tried to hit it out at the wrong time/bowler.

* While Dhoni had a good partnership with Jadeja, IMO left too much for Jadeja.  When Jadeja created the opportunity with a slew of boundaries in the last 10 overs, India let that opportunity slip as NZ followed it up with a couple of very economical overs which put the pressure back on India.  If you have to be critical of Dhoni, then this opening was hugely missed as Dhoni started playing very defensively and Jadeja was feeling the pressure of not getting a boundary at the other end.  Camera showed Kohli when Dhoni was playing dot balls at this stage and Kohli was gesturing WTF are you doing??? This was the game in my opinion in the last 10 overs. 

 

NZ beat India twice, first in the warmups in similar conditions probably and again here. In the end what a $hit show after dominating the league stages.  All that work counts for nothing if you don't do get your basic tactics right.  Now wait for the next WC.

 

Edited July 10, 2019 by vice

[IndianRenegade]

3 minutes ago, vice said:

* Players fishing for deliveries.

* Kohli once again not playing with straight bat, shuffling across the stumps and trying to flick just like CT

* Rahul once again too timid, fishing for a 6th stump delivery

* Why didn't they step out of the crease to counter early movement?

* Kohli's setup was too basic to read and he fell in the same trap once again.

* Either play out the first 10 or employ a pinch hitter to counter attack

* Pandya/Pant victims of their instincts, both could've executed higher percentage shots - both fell to Santner pretty much the same way.  This was a lack of game awareness - both felt the pressure after the dot balls and tried to hit it out at the wrong time/bowler.

* While Dhoni had a good partnership with Jadeja, IMO left too much for Jadeja.  When Jadeja created the opportunity with a slew of boundaries in the last 10 overs, India let that opportunity slip as NZ followed it up with a couple of very economical overs which put the pressure back on India.  If you have to be critical of Dhoni, then this opening was hugely missed as Dhoni started playing very defensively and Jadeja was feeling the pressure of not getting a boundary at the other end.  Camera showed Kohli when Dhoni was playing dot balls at this stage and Kohli was gesturing WTF are you doing??? This was the game in my opinion in the last 10 overs. 

 

NZ beat India twice, first in the warmups in similar conditions probably and again here. In the end what a $hit show after dominating the league stages.  All that work counts for nothing if you don't do get your basic tactics right.  Now wait for the next WC.

 

Have to agree. His last over strategy is frustrating, Dhoni doesn't recognize he has been found out. Bowlers know that he will murder you if you bowl in his slot. Anything wide and full, Dhoni can't do much and thats what he is going to get in his last over. He should have gone for his shots earlier.

[Pollack]

I won't blame Hardik and Pant much. Look players like Dhoni / Rohit can play the way they want and people will justify it under the garb of building innings but these guys are expected to score and at the same time not to play any false or reckless shot. Too much to ask for. Both did brilliant job. At the end of the day someone needs to go for runs because you don't win games just by saving wickets. It wasn't a very low scoring game.

[vice]

Most disappointing wicket was that of Kohli.  He was all over the place, and fell to the amateurish trap setup by Boult and Williamson. Should've stepped out of the crease to counter the LBW and angle and more importantly play with a straighter face of the bat. 

 

If Amir didn't get him, Boult did with the same tactics. 

Edited July 10, 2019 by vice

[Cricketics]

Kohli should have used straight bat like some mentioned. You can't be playing cross this early. I know he was in form but with the moving ball and Rohit already gone, should have taken a step back and gotten his eye in. Poor shot selection and being 3 down for just 5 runs really put us in the catch-up mode right from there. Even though there was some fight shown later by middle and lower order, 3/5 really screwed us up big time. 

Kohli should have looked to play the same way as he did in the league stages. He will be kicking himself now playing that cross bat shot. You practice straight bat all day and now all of a sudden in a crunch situation you threw it away.