Pieces of middle-order puzzle India's biggest takeaway

While flipping through statistics related to India's top order woes in the just-concluded ODI series versus the West Indies, there was an air of profound significance attached to the numbers. The top order averaged just 17.33 in the series - the lowest ever for India since January 2016. This is a staggering statistic for a top order that comprises two of the finest ODI batters of all time - Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. However, despite those numbers, the scoreline at the end of the series read 3-0 in favour of the home team.

Incidentally, West Indies' top order also struggled throughout the series, averaging a measly 13.66. The telling difference between the two sides was the middle order, with India's 4,5 and 6 averaging 50, which included three fifty plus scores. After India clinched the final game, Rohit Sharma aptly said in the post-match presentation: "That was the biggest takeaway for us - the middle order batting. Today was again a great game for the middle order. We were 40/3 (42/3). For me that's the biggest takeaway."

If Suryakumar Yadav and KL Rahul bailed India out of the edge of a precipice in the second game, then it was the duo of Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer who batted with a clarity of purpose in the last match. As Pant walked out to bat with a confident gait at 42 for 3, more than a few eyes would have zoomed in on the wicketkeeper-batter. After all, here is a batter who has come under some scrutiny for not being judicious with his shot selection in the recent past.

In the last ODI game though Pant seemed to be determined to keep most of his shots in the locker for a while. Even when he tried to bring one of his strokes out of the locker, his shot selection was precise. To illustrate the point, in the 14th over of India's innings when Odean Smith bowled an away-angled short ball, Pant responded with the cut stroke. The same Pant had tried to crack the pull while facing Smith's short ball that was angled across him in the second match and was dismissed.

In the same over, when Smith extracted a hint of life out of the surface from a good length, the southpaw was ready to play late as he cleverly opened the bat face to guide it to third man. He also waited for a favourable matchup - left-arm spin from over the wicket to left-handed batter - to clear the stands. Once Pant gauged the conditions, he seemed to be in a supercharger mode as he danced down the track to club Roach over mid-off. Even though Pant couldn't convert his start into a hundred, he showed glimpses that he could change gears - from 3 to 4 and 5 and then back to 3 - as per the bowler and situation.

Iyer, his batting partner, also played with maturity. With small feints of his hips and shoulder, the way Iyer upset Smith's plan by shuffling from leg to off and then back to leg in the 34th over would certainly be a part of the highlights reel. Yes, Iyer has had his share of problems with the short ball. Even in the third ODI when Joseph banged it short, Iyer pulled it awkwardly via a top-edge that flew away to the fence. He also attempted his trademark upper-cut against another of those short deliveries from Joseph, only to connect with thin air. But considering the point that he came out to bat with India finding themselves in a spot of bother in tricky conditions, his 111-ball 80 was an invaluable innings.

Before the start of the series, Rohit had observed: "In the South Africa series... what we didn't do collectively as a team. Eventually, if you look at it... it is a team sport, everyone has to come together and perform. It is always important that everyone comes together and plays that role that has been given to them. What is important for us moving forward is the role clarity of certain individuals in the squad. I feel if we can put that in place and talk to the individual, I think we can get what we want from certain individuals."

From an Indian perspective, it is true that the middle order was the 'biggest takeaway' from the series but it was a collective performance that helped the hosts clean-sweep the rubber. Curiously, the one part of the jigsaw puzzle that malfunctioned was the famed top order, something the think-tank would look to address in their next ODI series.