Congratulations, Team India, for reaching second consecutive T20 World Cup final, after beating England in a closely contested encounter in Mumbai on Thursday. Sanju Samson for his 89, Hardik Pandya for his all-round show, and Jasprit Bumrah for his miserly bowling, were the stars of the show. They took the team a step closer to their third title in the format.
Will be easy against New Zealand? No. Apart from the pressure of the final, let us just admit that bowling has emerged as a big concern. And batting too to a certain extent. And despite all the challenges, the Indian team has found players — who stood up in each match and delivered when it mattered the most.
But one really needs to talk about India’s Achilles Heel.. the two ‘failing’ world no. 1s, who are repeatedly coming up with disappointing performances and hurting the chances. By all means, they — Abhishek Sharma and Varun Chakravarthy are the best in the world currently in T20Is, but their numbers have just nosedived. Truth be told, India just cannot carry two liabilities in the team at the same time.
The opener in trouble — Abhishek Sharma
Abhishek has scored 0,0,0,15,55,10,9 in this tournament. That of course doesn’t do justice to his no.1 tag, and it perhaps is a little too late to replace him. He can be devastating on his day; just that, that day is yet to arrive. The pattern is quite clear with him, strangle him for boundaries, and he will play a rash shot to get out.
Alternates: There is simply no replacement for him in India squad. Ishan Kishan is already a part of the playing XI, and more than doing justice to his spot. But then the management could just maybe look to switch positions for the both left-handers. Ishan could open with Sanju and then Abhishek could come in next.
If not, one has to only pray, that he fires in the IND vs NZ final. As for now, all teams have well-studied his tactics, and have their plans in place for the swashbuckling opener.
Varun Chakravarthy’s ‘mystery’ dimnishes
Retired Indian spinner R Ahswin had warned before the tournament — that the mystery of Varun Chakravarthy should be preserved and used sparingly. But that has not been the case. All teams have pretty much figured how to deal with him. In the semis, he gave away 64 runs in his 4 overs. Vs West Indies he leaked 40; 47 came against South Africa. In short, with each passing match, he is feeling the heat, and the final could be as devastating for him, if not more.
Alternatives: India should simply not go on rankings, and get in much-experienced Kuldeep Yadav for the final. He has played only one match this World Cup — vs Pakistan and returned with figures of 1/14. If not a wrist spinner, there is Washington Sundar in the ranks as well, but the possibility of that is negligible.
Cricket
Varun Chakaravarthy decoded? Has 'mystery' left the spinner before IND vs NZ final?
