India’s high-risk big-hitting approach came under scrutiny after a less-fancied USA triggered a batting collapse
Consolidation. What used to be an essential part of building an innings in Test and ODI cricket seemed to have lost its relevance in the fast-paced Twenty20 format. Teams have switched to out-and-out attacking batting styles. Every ball has to be hit for a four or six even if it means playing a high-risk game, going against an adverse situation, or even if the nature of the pitch calls for more subdued skills from a batter.
Modern Twenty20 cricket
This is how modern Twenty20 cricket has evolved into a thoroughly run-scoring, entertaining game. Defending T20 World champions India have almost perfected this craft in the last two years. They have dominated the format, packing their playing XI with big hitters. The strategy has paid rich dividends.
Shubman Gill
Even ODI captain Shubman Gill has not found a place in this squad as India have backed their plan of an all-out attack from the start, placing trust on big hitters. The batting line-up is full of left-handers — Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube — all capable of taking the game away from the opposition in their day.
So far, so good. Until the USA gave a reality check on Saturday.
Suryakumar Yadav
India’s think-tank might be forced to rethink their strategy going deeper into the T20 World Cup at home. That’s because the USA brought India’s batting almost to the brink in their first match. It was captain Suryakumar Yadav who rightly went back to the old formula of consolidation and anchored the innings with patience before he went after the bowling in the final stretch. A total of 161 looked a distant prospect when India’s top-order collapsed to 46/4 at the end of the powerplay overs, and 77/6 at the end of 13 overs.
Wankhede Stadium
In fact, three batters — Kishan, Varma and Dube — lost their wickets trying to force the pace. Medium pacer Shadley van Schalkwyk cleverly used the slow surface to good effect to dismiss all three. This was a kind of start that the defending champions would have never imagined against a less fancied opponent like USA, and that too playing in front of a roaring crowd at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, who were stunned to silence.
More wickets fell and India were in dire straits, reduced to 77/6 after 13 overs. USA spinner Harmeet Singh bowled a beautiful length and spun the ball. Leg-spinner Mohammed Mohsin kept it tight too. USA were buzzing, having a batting side like India on the mat.
Conventional approach worked
Surya understood the seriousness and rightly went for the conventional method of consolidation. He focused on reviving the innings and playing an anchor’s role. Playing on the merit of the ball and showing patience, he settled in. For a few overs he adapted to the two-paced pitch before opening up the way only he can in this format of the game, with a brilliant final flourish that took the game away from USA. His unbeaten knock of 84 off 49 balls saved the day.
India’s think-tank
The game surely will force India’s think-tank to take a hard look at their strategy. Going ahead against stronger teams like Australia and South Africa, who will be more ruthless in enforcing their plans, will that sort of an approach work? Or will India play a more conventional game for 20-25 balls in case of a collapse. Will the big hitters at the top slow down and rebuild if quick two to three wickets fall early on. On trickier tracks, can India’s big hitters change their playing styles”
Reality check
These are all important questions India will be forced to think about after the match against the USA. The good thing is that a reality check has come in the very first match for the defending champions. This Indian team is in great form and has dominated oppositions. A few tweaks in plan for the bigger goal of winning the major title will be worth trying. In any case, it will be interesting to see how India’s batting unfolds in the next few games.
EOM
