Cricket is changing , and so are the tactics.
There has been a long standing debate on how a team should set up for the so-in-demand t20 cricket. Usually a balanced team in t20 should consist of proper batsmen in positions 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 and 5 followed by a wicketkeeper batsman , a batting all-rounder and a bowling all-rounder and 3 specialist bowlers. The Indian national cricket team is lucky to have been blessed with the likes of a certain Kedar Jadhav , Ravindra Jadeja and the Pandya brothers ( Krunal and Hardik) in the all-rounder department. All-rounders are the hottest deal nowadays and India is lucky to be heavily stacked in that part of their squad.
Given this prescription , India rested Virat Kohli for this t20 series and played with 3 wicketkeepers in the same starting XI. M.S.Dhoni , Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik all got their chance in the same team. Some investigation into this matter is necessary.
A good batting side is indicated by the top four batsmen of the team , who are expected to build up a good partnership and set up the stage for the bighitters lower down the order. For this, it is necessary not to shuffle too much with the batting line up and let the players settle in their respective roles. Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma have been opening the batting for India quite efficiently across both the ODI and t20 formats. Those two have become an automatic addition to the squad. Virat Kohli at no.3 is the first name on the team sheet and the captain of the team. Resting Virat Kohli and giving Vijay Shankar a role up in the order almost yielded the desired results. The young all-rounder deputing for Kohli at 3 impressed in the t20s against New Zealand.
At 4 is where the problem begins for India. With none currently cementing the 4th spot in the batting line up , Rishabh Pant was given a chance against the Blackcaps. The young rockstar impressed coming in at no.3 in most of the matches for Delhi Daredevils in the last edition of the IPL. He has an impressive average of 30 at number 3 and 21 at number 4. We all know what this young boy from Delhi can do , on his day. In the absence of Kohli , he does seem to be the short term solution. His knock of 40* against the Kiwis set up the stage for an Indian comeback against the Kiwis at Auckland. But questions are being raised on whether there is a first and a second gear to his game , along with the fifth gear that people already know of. Some stability in his style of play will surely strengthen his chances of coming in at 3 further. However , he is just a young kid with loads of potential and it is worth floating him around in the batting line up just to know his ‘ sweet position ‘.
M.S.Dhoni might have a plan to play for the 2020 t20 World Cup , whose constant support and experience resulted in a handful of victories in the last series against the Aussies. M.S. Dhoni is an epitome of calmness and he brings with him , the much needed experience and stability that the Indian middle order needs. Add with that , his big hitting abilities. The man never seems to grow old. Also , he is currently third among all wicketkeepers in the world in terms of Dismissals to Match ratio of 1.37 in 523 matches. M.S. Dhoni silenced all his critics by captaining the Chennai Super Kings to yet another IPL title. Undoubtedly , he is the best glovesman that India currently has. Also , his ability to read the bowling of the spin twins ( Chahal and Kuldeep) makes him indispensable to the Indian team and also another of the first names on the teamsheet.
Dinesh Karthik‘s contribution to the team may raise some questions , yet , his mesmerising catch of D J Mitchell at Wellington won the hearts of many. An outstanding fielder and a finisher that the Indian team had been crying out for so long. His recent performance where he steered his side to victory against Bangladesh where India needed 34 runs in the last 2 overs has caught the eyes of many. His performances for Kolkata Knight Riders as a finisher in the last IPL also caught the eyes of the selectors. We shouldn’t , however , focus much on his batting average which shows 35.45 surprisingly ( The number of not outs is of major essence here). Kedar Jadhav seems to be the most obvious replacement if Karthik is dropped. Jadhav is a better option , given he can also help the team by bowling a few balls here and there.
So the Indian selectors face a mammoth task in choosing the best side for the t20 internationals. With Kohli set to come back into the mix of things and M.S.Dhoni cementing his place in the national side with his recent performances , you can’t help but feel that one of either Pant or Karthik will be dropped. Sometimes, having too many options is not good, as the Indian selectors must be realising. Both of them deserve a place in the squad. The IPL which is scheduled to start next month will be a major deciding factor in the selection process. There’s a feeling that whoever has the better IPL will almost definitely find his place cemented in this team.
– Srijit Mukherjee and Sayan Chakraborti
The Sport Catalogue 