Team India’s World Cup campaign is still not over. In recent times, we have witnessed the Indian team achieve unreal feats when they have had their back against the walls. So far, India have let too much get to their minds leading to two comprehensive losses in their first two matches. Whatever the team may be, it is time for Virat Kohli’s men to show some heart and begin their uphill redemption campaign against a side that has impressed everyone despite the underdog tag.
Rashid’s mystery still unsolved
Most of the batters in the current Indian batting lineup have struggled to score freely against the third-highest wicket-taker in the format. Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh Pant have showed up some fight but none of them have been able to dominate the leg-spinner.
It will be interesting to see the approach Indian batters take against an in-form leggie, whether they play him out or take him on. Also, if he bowls alongside Mujeeb ur Rahman, Indian batters will consider themselves lucky to score over seven runs per over and not lose many wickets.
Zazai’s power-play in powerplay overs
Hazratullah Zazai is the X-factor in Afghan side. If India are able to get him out early like Pakistan did, Afghan middle order will be under pressure. However, if Zazai gets a few in the middle of the bat, India will have a hard time containing him. The southpaw has an outstanding strike rate of 150.81 and has had experience batting at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. India may consider introducing a spinner in the powerplay against him as he likes the ball coming on to his bat instead of reaching for it. He has lost his wicket to left-arm spinners twice in the season so far whether it is Scotland’s Mark Watt or Pakistan’s Imad Wasim. Maybe Ravindra Jadeja may turn out to be a better option against him.
Time for Ashwin?
Ravichandran Ashwin was in good touch in the warm-up games. Ravindra Jadeja and Varun Chakravarthy have not taken a wicket yet. While Jadeja provides more balanced to the side as a batter at no.7, India may consider including Ashwin in place of Chakravarthy. The off-spinner can contribute with the bat too if it comes to that.
No left-arm fast bowler
It is time for India to switch back to their original opening combination. The unpopular ploy to have Ishan Kishan open the innings considering the threat left-arm fast bowler Trent Boult should not be repeated as Afghanistan don’t have one. Rohit Sharma should definitely be backed to open alongside KL Rahul. If India choose to include Kishan in the side, he should bat in the middle over.
The unlikely equation and toss factor
Like Kohli has said before, India should not concern themselves with the impact of toss and conditions. Even if the Indian skipper’s fate changes this time, he should elect to bat first considering the advantage he will have to improve India’s net run rate (NRR). India need to back their batting ability and post a big total and try winning the match by a good margin. Currently, their NRR is worse than Namibia as they sit in the fifth place on the points table.
