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The Rohit Sharma template has largely been a success for Team India. In the first T20I against the West Indies, Rohit’s decision to include a sixth bowling option in the form of Venkatesh Iyer did raise a few eyebrows, especially when somebody like Shreyas Iyer wasn’t a part of the playing XI. Yet, Rohit was clear with his views, with what he wanted from his team.
“Very hard on him (Shreyas Iyer) not making it to playing eleven, but we needed someone to bowl in the middle which is why we couldn't get him in. We were very clear with Shreyas and we told him we want that option going into the World Cup. All these guys are professionals and they do understand that team comes first,” the Indian limited-overs captain said in his post-match remarks.
The fact that the demands of the team outweigh individual names surely bodes well for Team India. The Rohit Sharma era is off to a great start, and India are yet to lose a game under his tenure as the full-time limited-overs skipper. India were only recently thrashed 3-0 by South Africa in the ODIs, but Rohit’s men have given a good account of themselves in the four games so far, even if the West Indies have lacked the quality & competitiveness you expect from the top sides in world cricket.
Ravi Bishnoi’s selection in the side also baffled many when the teams were announced in the first T20I. With Yuzvendra Chahal already in the side, many believed India should not have opted for a right-arm leg-spinner. However, the young leggie had the Indian captain’s backing and Bishnoi repaid the faith in the best way possible. West Indies crumbled under the trial by spin, with Bishnoi returning figures of 2/17, picking up the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his incredible display. It was his spell that put a leash on the scoring rate, helping India restrict the visitors to just 157.
The Indian captain was full of praise for his debutant. “He (Bishnoi) has got a lot of variations and skill-set with him. He can bowl at any stage and it gives us a lot of options to rotate the other bowlers. Very happy with his first game for India and he's got a bright future and it's just about us now on how we use him,” Rohit had said after the first T20I.
While India’s plans have all worked well till now, they’d be hoping both Virat Kohli & Ishan Kishan can find form in the next game. Kohli has only scored 43 runs in his last 4 innings and even though Rohit requested for Kohli to be left alone ahead of the first T20I, his lack of runs are definitely becoming a cause of concern. Kishan too hasn’t looked like himself in the past few games. He did score 35 runs in the first game, but he took 42 balls for it, an anomaly for an explosive batsman who just fetched the highest price at this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction.
India though are unlikely to tinker with their playing XI for the first T20I.
For the West Indies, it’s now or never. A loss now would mean another series loss. They have lost four games in a row on the tour, and they desperately need a win to stay in the series. In the first T20I, they only scored 46 runs in overs 6-15 with the Indian spinners putting on a stranglehold. While Pooran & Pollard showed fight in the last overs, for them to mount a challenge for this Indian side, they need to find ways to score runs in the middle overs.
Kieron Pollard’s men though will also receive a boost with the return of Jason Holder. The all-rounder, who missed the first T20I after being hit on the chest during a practice session, is expected to be fit for the second match. Fabian Allen might make way for Holder in the XI.
