Against Kenya at the Rose Bowl, India gave a strange account of itself when it did not look to attack in the first 15 overs, the norm on the one-day circuit. Instead, conserving wickets for the final assault they managed 91 runs in the final 10 overs. As Indian vice-captain Rahul Dravid said yesterday, the Indian thinktank has decided to keep wickets in hand in the first 15 overs and will launch the offensive in the last 10-odd overs. A radical shift in the team’s thinking. Figures reveal that through this entire year, whenever Team India has won a game, more often than not, they have saved the attack for the last 10 overs.VB SERIES• Beat Zimbabwe by 7 wickets at HobartTOTAL: 211 for 3; FIRST 15: 83/0 [RR-5.53]; Reached target in 37.4 overs• Beat Australia by 19 runs at BrisbaneTOTAL: 303 for 4; FIRST 15: 89/1 [RR-5.93]; LAST 10: 88/2• Beat Zimbabwe by 24 runs at BrisbaneTOTAL: 255 for 6; FIRST 10: 67/2 [RR-4.47]; LAST 10: 72/3• Beat Zimbabwe by 3 runs at AdelaideTOTAL: 280 for 7; FIRST 15: 83/3 [RR-5.53]; LAST 10: 78/3• Beat Zimbabwe by 4 wickets at PerthTOTAL: 136 for 6; FIRST 15: 75/4 [RR-5.00]; Reached target in 30.3 oversPAKISTAN TOUR• Won by 5 runs at KarachiTOTAL: 349 for 7; FIRST 15: 143/2 [RR-9.53]; LAST 10: 71/3• Won by 5 wickets at LahoreTOTAL: 294 for 5; FIRST 15: 103/4 [RR-6.87]; Reached target in 45 overs• Won by 40 runs at LahoreTOTAL: 293 for 7; FIRST 15: 82/2 [RR-5.47]; LAST 10: 81/3ASIA CUP• Beat UAE by 116 runs at DambullaTOTAL: 260 for 6; FIRST 10: 58/2 [RR-3.87]; LAST 10: 77/2• Beat Bangladesh by 8 wickets at ColomboTOTAL: 178 for 2; FIRST 15: 77/1 [RR-5.13]; Reached target in 38.3 overs• Beat Sri Lanka by 4 runs at ColomboTOTAL: 271 for 6; FIRST 15: 79/1 [RR-5.27]; LAST 10: 68/3NATWEST SERIES v ENGLAND• Won by 23 runs at Lord’sTOTAL: 204; FIRST 15: 50/3 [RR-3.33]; LAST 10: 36/6 (All out in 49.3 overs)ICC CHAMPIONS TROPHY• Beat Kenya by 98 runs at SouthamptonTOTAL: 290 for 4; FIRST 15: 55/1 [RR-3.66]; LAST 10: 91/2 — (Faisal Shariff)
