India won with refreshing ease the T20 series against England. I must add that after the mauling in the final test, I thought we will not win even a single game during the tour. I was proven wrong. More than the wins, it was the refreshing Indian approach that merits attention as the T20 juggernaut moves onto the World Cup.
The world has moved on. Now, it is make merry while the field is in and continue with that. England have redefined the way white-ball batting must be played. Other teams, if they are adopting England’s belligerence through and through are atleast ensuring that the powerplay is utilised to the maximum extent possible.
The time tested method
India has been an exception on this front. Not for them the 0-60 in 3 seconds method. They prefer to take start slowly, preserve wickets during the new-ball, consolidate in the middle overs and then go for the jugular towards the end. To their credit, they did manage to win some games but have faltered when it matters. The innumerable number of ICC events being case in point. Matters were not helped because of the fact that India have often opened with Rohit and Rahul. Two batsmen who are loathe to take risks.
There were calls for the team to change this approach but the team remained steadfast in their belief. It required a defeat against arch-rival Pakistan in the 2021 World Cup to bring about the much needed change.
Introduction of new personnel
India went about trying various players and some of them have clicked. Surya & Ishan. Against England, Surya was in irresistible mood. The hundred in the 3rd T20 will standout in the memory of everyone who has seen India play. It was not just extraordinary hitting but the shots were completely calculated. He is a certainty for the next few years in India’s ODI and T20 squads. It really is unfortunate that he has bloomed quite late in his career. Whatever time that he has, if he could bat like this, he is bound to win lot of games for the team.
Pant’s elevation is not correct
Though I will not support opening with Pant in the 2nd and 3rd ODI, atleast, the team management tried someone who can get going from the very first delivery. I have said this before and I will say this again, Pant is not that good a T20 player. Graeme Swann, while commentating during the Edgbaston test, made an excellent observation. After the punch of the backfoot of Potts went for boundary, Swann said that the same shot in white ball cricket will fetch one run. Therein lies Pant’s problem. He is forced to improvise and thereby throw his wicket away in trying to manufacture a shot that wasn’t there.
Every now and then, Pant needs a release shot that will fetch him a boundary. Otherwise, he becomes restless. With the field spreadout in the short format, it is not always that a punch will run to the boundary. Essentially, Pant does not have the temperament which is essential for ODI and more so, for T20.
The curious case of Ishan and Deepak Hooda
The other problem with Pant’s elevation is what to do with Ishan Kishan? He is someone who is not afraid to take chances during the initial overs. If he gets going, India invariably are ahead of the curve. It was really tough on the part of Ishan to be dropped after just one game. Deepak Hooda is another who is quite unlucky. Here is someone who had scored a hundred, albeit against Ireland and who had a good game in the first T20 dropped for someone who is struggling for runs. It is bit too early to say that Deepak will be able to ride the bounce on those Australia surfaces, though I expect them to be batting beauties, but it will be impossible to find out if he is not given enough chances.
The struggling Virat Kohli
It is tough to see Kohli, who once ruled T20 cricket, struggling for form. He tried to hit and that failed too. He is simply not in the frame of mind to be playing cricket at the moment ad needs a lengthy break. Perhaps, a stint in Ranji Trophy will change his fortune. The selectors will not because it will look like he was dropped on form. Instead, he must request for a break. Sehwag and Kapil Dev are correct when they said that non-performers cannot be kept in the team when there are performing youngsters.
Harshal Patel
Harshal Patel’s mixture of slower ones did not get the purchase on quicker pitches. At the IPL, the wickets being slow, his slower balls had that potency. On the Australian pitches, I am afraid he may not be that good.
The disappointment of Dinesh Karthik
DK as he is known as nowadays, was the bigger disappointment of all. 3 innings for 29 runs and a strike rate of less than 100 is not what he was signed up for. At Nottingham, the situation was tailor-made for him. He came in at the fall of Shreyas and with just 4 overs left, this is a situation where DK thrives but here he was found wanting. He didn’t score of the 3 deliveries first up and increased the pressure of Surya. DK is precisely in the team for his finishing role but in these games, he failed to live upto the expectation. With Pant opening, there still might be a chance for DK but the return of Rahul, Hardik, Deepak Hooda and Ishan may put paid to that hopes.
Conclusion to the refreshing Indian approach
Nevertheless, the Indian team have decided to change the approach completely which is music to the ears of the Indian fans. With Rahul’s and Kohli’s form dipping alarmingly, it remains to be seen how the team is going to approach the remaining games. In a top-order of just 4 specialist batsmen, it simply is not sustainable to have 2 searching for form.
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