The visitor Blackcaps completed the challenging total and a stunning six-wicket win in Mumbai on Sunday night. The second similarity is more obvious. That day India’s bowling plan failed, so much so that Jadhav and even Kohli himself had to bowl a few overs. That was a trigger for the protracted experimentation that has taken place since. Black Caps play good cricket especially when it comes about bating. Even as Latham and Taylor kept the scoreboard ticking, you knew that New Zealand had it covered. The dew settled in towards the end and by then it was too late.

Let it be said here though that this is not about losing. This is only the third loss for the Virat and Men’s in Blue in 15 ODIs since the Champions Trophy. Their preparations for the 2019 World Cup began, so it is still only the second loss in 11 matches.

There is lack of a consistent plan B should the first-approach fail. In this particular case against New Zealand or even against Australia in Bengaluru game, when the new ball bowlers fail to get breakthroughs, or when the spinners don’t plug the runs enough, India’s attack seems one-dimensional. When you follow a set pattern again and again with your bowling attack and have found continued success, then at times you have no backup plan when the opposition plays well.

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