Concerns Rise Over India's Opening Pair Ahead of Crucial T20 World Cup Matches
India's Opening Pair Under Scrutiny
In New Delhi, former Indian cricketer Abhishek Nayar has raised alarms regarding the performance of India's opening batsmen during the Super Eight phase of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, particularly their difficulties against off-spin bowling in the powerplay.
Ishan Kishan stands as India's second-highest scorer in the tournament, having accumulated 176 runs across five matches with an average of 35.20.
Conversely, Abhishek Sharma, currently ranked as the top T20I batter, is struggling significantly, managing only 15 runs in four matches, including three ducks in this prestigious event.
During a discussion on JioHotstar, Nayar emphasized the uncertainty and lack of rhythm at the top of the batting order, specifically mentioning Kishan and Sharma.
He elaborated that off-spinners with the new ball can generate unpredictable bounce and slight deviations, making aggressive batting risky during the initial overs.
Nayar also warned that teams like the West Indies might utilize bowlers such as Roston Chase early in the innings to implement specific strategies.
He stated, "There will be an uncomfortable conversation between Ishan Kishan and Abhishek regarding who will take the strike, especially since Kishan has now inherited the burden of low scores from Sharma, who was previously in excellent form. This poses a significant challenge for India. They must strategize on how to tackle off-spinners, particularly with Roston Chase likely to bowl during the powerplay against them. When the ball is new, a finger spinner can achieve extra bounce by hitting the seam, which complicates matters. If the ball is slightly slower in the air and deviates, it can easily lead to dismissals in T20 cricket, creating uncertainty and potentially resulting in wickets."
India's recent 76-run defeat to South Africa ended their 12-match unbeaten streak in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
This loss has intensified the pressure on India to secure victories in their remaining two matches with a strong net run rate to maintain their chances of advancing in the tournament.
The Men in Blue are set to face Zimbabwe in their next Super Eight match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Thursday.