6 positive takeaways for India from the VB series

The recently concluded bi-lateral ODI series between India and Australia produced the worst possible result for the Indians as they were steamrolled by the rampaging Aussies. The hosts managed to outdo the visitors in all departments of the game, particularly in batting.However, despite the horrendous result, there were quite a few positives that emerged for Team India which are bound to help them out in the long run. Ample proof of this is visible in the fact that the Indian team actually managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory on at least a couple of occasions in the seires, if not more.Here are 5 positive takeaways for India from the VB series:

#6 Manish Pandey\'s emergence

India’s stars dazzled with that of Pandey’s as his century guided India to their first victory of the tour.

It is quite difficult to comprehend the fact that Manish Pandey, who made his first-class debut in 2008, took eight years to finally play for his country. With tons of runs in the Ranji Trophy - 5088 runs to be precise, at an average of over 50 - and some gut-wrenching performances in the IPL, playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders, one could have easily counted on him to make his debut much earlier than he actually did.

But that is in the past now, as from the 23rd day of January, Pandey would be remembered for perhaps the most magnificent and timely hundred that has been hit by an Indian batsman in recent times. He scored an unbeaten 104 in a pressure cooker situation, with his side in pursuit of chasing 331- which now is the first time that a 300+ score has been chased against the home side on their soil- and more importantly, stayed there till the end and saw India through.

Pandey’s heroics at Sydney would be remembered for a long long time now, and he for sure, is a permanent starter for India in the limited-overs fixtures to come.

#5 Decent effort from opening bowlers

While the Indian bowling has been disappointing throughout the series, the bowlers have impressed a bit with the new ball.

While the Indian bowlers have had a tough time for the duration of the 5-match ODI series against Australia, the only little positive has been the bowling at the start of the Australian innings. The maximum they have conceded during the initial 10-over powerplay has been 65 in the 3rd match, which is acceptable considering the form the Aussie batsmen were in.

In fact, the first 2 ODIs saw an exceptional effort from the bowlers as they gave away just 40 runs in the first 10 and also picked up 2 wickets in the 1st ODI. The performance in the last 3 games was not as impressive though, with 65, 59 and 61 being conceded at the start of the innings.

There are obvious problems in India’s bowling department, be it for the pacers or the spinners. However, they can certainly draw some encouragement from the way they started the innings in the first two games and make amends in the T20I series.

#4 Shikhar Dhawan repaying the team management\'s faith

Dhawan had an ordinary first half of the series, but roared to form in the last 3 games.

The Indian team management stuck with opener Shikhar Dhawan throughout his extended lean patch and are finally reaping the rewards for it. There was a lot of talk about Dhawan batting to save his place in the side when he got 68 in the 3rd ODI of the VB Series against Australia.

However, the southpaw slammed shut the mouths of his critics by scoring a breathtaking century in the 4th ODI at Canberra and a quickfire 78 in the final ODI of the series. Shikhar Dhawan ended up scoring 287 runs in 5 matches at an average of 57.40 including a century and two half-centuries.

Dhawan’s return to form further strengthens the Indian batting line-up and puts the team in good stead before the approaching T20I series against Australia and the ICC World Twenty20 in March this year.

#3 Jasprit Bumrah\'s credible performance on debut

Jasprit Bumrah came in as a replacement for Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, and for India it was a blessing in disguise.

India's new fast bowling recruit Jasprit Bumrah brought all his IPL experience to the fore with a bright performance on debut. It is not easy to face up to a rampaging Australian batting line-up, that too in their home conditions.

However, the 22-year old managed to do what no other Indian bowler could in the entire series, holding his own against the batsmen. Bumrah conceded only 40 runs in his quota of 10 overs and picked up 2 wickets, one of his victims being Aussie skipper Steve Smith.

What impressed one most about the wiry pacer was the terrific 49th over that he bowled giving away only 3 runs and grabbing James Faulkner's wicket. Jasprit Bumrah has certainly announced himself as a suitable candidate for India's bowling attack and will be one of the faces to look forward to in the future.

#2 Rohit Sharma\'s consistency with the bat

India’s best batsman in the series, Rohit Sharma has well and truly silenced his critics for good.

Opener Rohit Sharma has easily been the greatest pillar of strength in India's ODI batting line-up for the past year or so. The classy batsman has taken his game a step further with a tremendous batting performance in the series against Australia.

Rohit started the series with a bang as he scored and unbeaten 171 in the 1st ODI, which propelled India's score to 309; it is another matter that the bowlers failed to defend the total. He followed it up with another ton in the 2nd ODI in Brisbane, again in a losing cause thanks to some poor bowling.

Sharma had just one failure in the series when he got out for 6 in the 3rd ODI, but made up for it with a blistering 41 in the 4th match and a stellar 99 in the final ODI. Such consistency in batting from Rohit Sharma may just provide India the momentum they require going into the ICC World Twenty20 in March this year.

#1 Virat Kohli\'s incredible return to form

Kohli was the backbone of the Indian innings throughout the series.

Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli has certainly developed a wonderful bond with Australia and seems to thrive in the conditions Down Under. Kohli has followed up his 4 Test centuries on the previous tour to Australia with yet another outstanding performance with the bat in ODIs this time around.

After having struggled for most of 2015, Virat had started to show glimpses of his old self in the ODI series against South Africa in October. However, it has really been the VB Series against Australia where the master ODI batsman has shown everyone his true class.

Kohli's statistics in the series have been quite incredible with 381 runs from 5 matches at an average of 76.20 and 2 centuries and 2 fifties to go with it. The mainstay of India's strong batting line-up could not have chosen a better time to return to form than the build-up period to the 2016 ICC World Twenty20.