Hamilton loss was an aberration: Sanjay Bangar

India’s assistant coach Sanjay Bangar believes the batting collapse that India faced in the fourth ODI against New Zealand in Hamilton on Thursday was an “aberration” and reposed faith on the visitors’ much-vaunted middle-order saying it mostly delivers whenever the situation is tough. India were bowled out for 92 in the fourth match to lose by 8 wickets and allow New Zealand to make the series 3-1 with one game to go. It was India’s lowest total in New Zealand in a ODI and seventh lowest overall.

India were without their top players in captain Virat Kohli, wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and in-form bowler Mohammed Shami in the fourth ODI and played youngsters like Shubman Gill, who made his debut, and Khaleel Ahmed. Kohli has been rested for the remaining ODIs as well as the T20I series that follows after India won their third match on the trot to bag the series. Rohit Sharma captained India in the game and will lead the team in the remaining games.

“The middle order has rose to the occasion many times and delivered. Yes some situation has been trying but it is not that the middle order hasn’t performed,” Bangar told reporters ahead of the fifth ODI against New Zealand in Wellington ahead of the fifth ODI on Sunday.

“When required, more often than not whenever it has been put in a situation, it has delivered, may be the last game was an aberration,” he said.

Bangar gives examples from past

The former India cricketer also explained his point by giving examples from past games like in Cuttack (against England in January 2017), Indore (against South Africa in 2015) and Melbourne (against Australia in 2019) where the middle order made solid contributions to win games.

“…if they (top order batsmen) are batting well then the middle order doesn’t get the opportunity required to maintain the groove,” Bangar said. The Indian batting order performed well consistently in the first three matches which they won by 8 wickets, 90 runs and 7 wickets before facing a debacle in Hamilton where Tim Boult’s 5 for 21 ripped apart the Indian batting order.

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