T20 World Cup 2022: Will India opt for a 'Horses for courses' approach?

Yuzvendra Chahal (Source: Twitter)

In their redemption journey after a Super 12 exit in 2021, India has reached the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2022. Their next assignment is against England at the Adelaide Oval. The winner of this match will be moving into the finals at the MCG on the 13th of November. 

India will be looking to end their jinx of the knockout rounds that has stuck with them since the 2014 ICC T20 World Cup. In the all important encounter India will have to be wary of the strengths that England has displayed and also be aware the weaknesses they can exploit. 

Let us look at the strengths and weaknesses of the English team and try to formulate an ideal game plan for India accordingly. 

England's batting

Phase wise batting of England in T20 World Cup 2022

Strength

• England has looked start with solidity and has consciously tried to preserve the wickets.
• The table suggests that the openers have been the most efficient of the English batters. This interpretation is proved true if we take a look at the list of the top run scorers for England. The top two names in the list are those of the two openers Alex Hales (125) and Jos Buttler (119). 

Weakness

• Though they have got solid starts, England has failed to capitalise on it as their middle-order has not performed upto the mark
• Even with wickets in hand and their attempt to go hard in the end, England's scoring rate in the Death Overs is the worst amongst the top 4 teams. 

India's plan

India will have to try and dismiss the two openers as quickly as possible and put pressure on the underperforming middle-order as quickly as possible. 

Plan against Jos Buttler

Jos Buttler has a really poor record in T20Is against Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Bhuvi has dismissed him 5 times in T20Is in 32 deliveries conceding just 30 runs. So, India can opt to go with 3 consecutive over of Bhuvneshwar in an attempt to pick up Buttler. 

Plan against Alex Hales

Alex Hales vs different type of bowlers in T20Is in 2022

As we see Alex Hales has a good record against pacers. He does not have an impressive record against spinners especially the leg-spinners. So playing Yuzi Chahal in the match could be a good option for India. And not only for Hales, the presence of a leg spinner could be beneficial even against the middle-order England.

England middle order vs Leg Spin in T20Is in 2022

As the figure suggests, leg spinners have been efficient against the English middle order. Hence, the presence of Chahal could give India a strategic upper hand in he match.

The Blueprint

Replacement

Yuzvendra Chahal in place of Axar Patel. 

Powerplays

Opening with Bhuvneswar Kumar and Yuzvendra Chahal. Three overs of Bhuvi and a couple from Yuzi followed by an over of Hardik or Arshdeep. 

Middle Overs

Chahal, Ashwin and  Hardik along with a couple of overs  from Shami till the 14th or 15th over. 

Death Overs

Arshdeep along with Shami finishes it off for India. 

Now, we will have to wait till toss to see if India opts change their combination and go for Yuzvendra Chahal as a 'horse for the course'.

Also Read: T20 World Cup 2022: All about the venues of the knock outs