T20 World Cup 2022: Can India's batting depth compensate their bowling issues?
Virat and SKY [PC: Associated Press]
The T20 World Cup is just a week away. The squad that is to represent India in the tournament has already reached Australia. Team India's mission this time round will be to win the trophy and redeem themselves of the group stage elimination in the last edition of the tournament.
While India will attempt to lift the trophy for a second time in the history, there are a few concerns that might trouble the 'Men in Blue'. The death bowling issues look like the biggest problem for the team at present. The Indian bowlers are failing to deliver in the death overs and that has cost India some matches in the recent past.
Hence, the big question will India be able to cope up with the problem? With Bumrah ruled out of the tournament it seems difficult that India will find a remedy in its bowling itself. But can they compensate this weakness with their batting? Let us take a deeper dive into the question and try to find an answer.
Finding the perfect balance in opening
With India's death bowling suffering, they need to be prepared to score at leat 20-30 runs more in each match. For this the team needs to have a positive approach from the very beginning.
There has been lots of talk about India taking a new approach where they are looking to be positive from the very beginning. For this to happen India needs to find an answer as to who will be the aggressor at the top between Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul.
As of now, it seems like Rohit is trying to take on the bowlers from the very beginning while Rahul is trying to get settled. But the fact is Rahul's game has more flexibility, he can adapt as per the situation. While Rohit is more of a batter who likes to take time at the beginning and then switches gear.
So, India need to plan out things at the top and decide the role for the two openers.
Virat Kohli, the anchor
Since, his much talked about 71st century against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup, Virat Kohli is slowly getting back into the groove. He gave a great example of how he can perfectly plan a T20 knock during that particular knock.
Virat Kohli's innings progression during his 71st century
So, the table gives us the idea that for the first 40 balls Virat just looked to keep the dynamism going, while in the last 20 balls he put the foot on the accelerator.
India should plan their batting innings with Kohli as the anchor. He should be entrusted with the job of keeping the scoreboard ticking and getting himself settled in for a long innings while the other batters take on the bowlers around him.
The dynamic duo of Hardik and SKY
Virat Kohli will be followed in the batting order by Hardik and Suryakumar Yadav. The job for these two batters should be to add the extra dynamism into India's batting.
Hardik can be the floater in the order as per the team's requirements. If Kohli fails to fire he can be India's back up anchor. But Surya's sole job should be to counter attack. The all-round game of Suryakumar can dig India out of many pressure situations.
To back Suryakumar and Hardik, there will be a perfect finisher in Dinesh Karthik.
The probable plan
- Rohit settles at the beginning while Rahul looks to be positive from the start
- Virat Kohli, plays the role of an anchor and helps India dominate the middle overs, the most important phase of a T20I game.
- Suryakumar Yadav focuses on increasing the scoring rate of the team with a counter attacking brand of cricket, no matter the situation of the match.
- Hardik Pandya is used as the floater. He can be India's back up if Kohli fails, else his role will be to increase the scoring rate of the team along with Suryakumar Yadav.
- Dinesh Karthik rounds it of with his finishing skills.
- India can look at options like Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin, on bad days when the top order fails to fire.
 "Probuddha Bhattacharjee")
