The NZ-India ODIs: Thoughts at the Halfway Stage

* My series prediction of 3-2 to NZ, in an earlier post, has fallen through. So what else is new?

* I did mention in the same post however, that the batting powerplay was tailor-made for the Indians. I just didn't bargain on the sort of impact such an advantage might bring, as India's onslaught of 69 runs between overs 23 and 27 confirmed yesterday.

* Those fans who spoke of 'preferential treatment' being meted out to Sachin Tendulkar by the selectors, keeping in mind the axing of longtime peers Ganguly and Dravid from the one-day setup, were absolutely right. Preferential treatment is only ever reserved for those capable of turning in the sort of performance Sachin which did yesterday.

* It's a known fact that kiwi grounds are small. But are authorities so determined to milk the cash-cow that is ODI cricket by ensuring boundaries are as short as those at the AMI stadium? Ridiculous.

* As long as the Indian batsmen continue to enjoy themselves, it will mask the bowling frailties. Zaheer Khan has been good in patches, Harbhajan becomes twice the bowler when the batsmen have no option but to go for the big hits, and Praveen Kumar's spell in Napier was effective on account of the surprise factor. The less said about the rest the better.

* The Indian batsmen have well and truly found their range. Everyone in the top six barring Gautam Gambhir has had one good outing, and collectively, they're redefining the sort of awesome power hitting demonstrated by the Aussies in the 2007 World Cup.

* NZ need Daniel Vettori back ASAP, as well as McCullum to return to wicketkeeping duties. Baz was much too reactive in his first outing as captain, while Peter McGlashan appears a liability behind the stumps after missing that stumping off Dhoni in Christchurch.

* At the moment, NZ's bowlers are sorely lacking in the one aptitude that makes them difficult opponents on the international stage - discipline. India's batting lineup doesn't make their task any easier, but the number of boundary balls dished out routinely has been quite perplexing.

* I see a future for Ian Butler in this one-day side. Now, if only he can keep himself injury free...

* NZ should probably dispense with one frontline seamer and bring in a slow, wicket-to-wicket dobbler capable of bowling in tandem in the middle overs with Vettori. Brendon Diamanti perhaps? Does Scott Styris bowl these days? Maybe Grant Elliott could be utilised better.

* I was disappointed to miss Jesse Ryder's 105 yesterday, and hope it is a prelude to bigger things. I was not at all surprised to hear that Ryder scored his runs without any hint of desperation; he usually succumbs instantly to an ugly stroke of any kind.

* If this is the quality of the pitches being dished out, NZ should seriously abandon their policy of chasing and start making a habit of setting 300-plus totals for their bowlers to defend. Not only does the opening combo of Ryder and McCullum make this possible, it is also more likely to put the Indians under more pressure than first strike on a two-paced wicket.

* Don't be surprised if India win this series 4-0 (though my predictions might as well be taken with a grain of salt). There's no shame in losing to this Indian side in imperious one-day form, but NZ aren't helping themselves with their inflexible limited overs mindset.