India’s opening experiments in T20Is
Since India’s ouster from the T20 World Cup 2021, the team has been constantly juggling between adventure and caution. Not only the players are being rotated from game to game, but their positions and roles in the side have also been shuffled as much as a workout playlist. With the marquee event only a few months away, the team seems settled on the personnel but not on their profiles. One such case in hand is that of the opening pair.
After bowling out of the T20 World Cup in the UAE, the Indian side has opted to commence their innings with 8 different opening pairs. The two that have confronted the opposition the most times are Ruturaj Gaikwad-Ishan Kishan and Rohit Sharma-Ishan Kishan. Seeking a left-right balance at the top, India persisted with Kishan at the opening spot. However, his poor returns outside India have pushed him back in the pecking order.
One of the bravest decisions that the current team management opted for was to open the innings with Rishabh Pant. The destructive wicketkeeper-batter is yet to fulfil his potential in the shorter formats and allowing him the freedom of the powerplay overs was the best way to unleash the beast within. Pant recorded scores of 26(15) and 1(5) in the two attempts.
While the experiment was expected to be continued in the Caribbean, the Indian team threw up a surprise. Suryakumar Yadav stepped out alongside Rohit Sharma to face the opening delivery of the first T20I. The same batter had struck 117 in his last T20I innings at number four. Yadav, with his flaming intent, had aced the middle-order role but the team management thought otherwise.
The move stumped cricket fans and cricket experts alike. Mohammed Kaif was one among the bemused.
“Whatever that was I did not understand it, at all. If you were trying Rishabh Pant as the opener for 2-3 matches then you should have gone with him today as well. Give him at least 5 chances. And this strategy of captain Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid, they back the players at least 5-6 matches. But this did not happen with Pant. And Suryakumar has the role of controlling the innings in the middle and adding those finishing touches. In fact his role will remain as No.4 batter when Kohli and Rahul returns. But Pant should have been tried. Clearly did not understand what happened. Ishan Kishan is also waiting,” Kaif said.
While Parthiv Patel wondered whether the move was to find a spot for Virat Kohli in the playing XI. Moving Suryakumar to the top would free up a position in the middle order. However, the skipper Rohit Sharma did not confirm any of the motives behind the strategy. With India playing West Indies in the 2nd T20I tonight, it remains to be seen if they persist with Suryakumar or return to Pant.
