TimesofIndia.com here takes a quick look at the big positives of Rohit Sharma and co. and some of the major areas of concern that still remain.
The positives:
Virat Kohli occupy slot number 3
There has been so much talk about Virat Kohli’s form in recent years that it is somewhat odd not to read more headlines about him grappling with the bat.
As for Team India, the former captain of India finishing a 1021-day wait for his 71st century international was a big sign that Virat, the prolific hitter may just be back. With the T20 World Cup around the corner, the way Virat played in the third game of the T20I series against Australia was a big plus for the Men in Blue who are watching their first T20 World Cup title. since they won the inaugural edition under the guidance of MS Dhoni in 2007.
Virat Kohli (photo by PTI)
Virat will also beat in the all-important number 3 of the World Cup and in Sunday’s match against Australia he used all his experience not only to stabilize the chase, but also to move very effectively from attacker to anchor. His 48-ball 63 was crucial for the hosts as they chased a very difficult 187-point goal.
From both a personal and a team point of view, this shot was important. In the first two games Virat got scores of 2 and 11. Virat’s hit rate is also something that both he and the team management will keep an eye on. He overall finished as the fifth highest getter in the series (76 points) with a strike rate in the series of 124.59.
Virat is an impactful player and, above all, he looked and seemed confident after this shot. A high level of confidence Virat is an asset India hopes to bring to the World Cup in October.
Suryakumar Yadav doing what he does best
There is no doubt that Suryakumar Yadav is currently India’s best T20I hitter. In fact, he is now the highest number of points in T20I in 2022. He currently has 682 points this year with an average of 38. In this 3-game streak against Australia, SKY finished as the second-highest number of points (115 points), only 3 points behind Cameron Green (118). His strike rate in the series was 185.48.
The duck in the second game with the rain reduced which was reduced to an 8 over a side was an aberration.
Suryakumar Yadav (Photo AP)
His 69 out of 36 hit with five fours and as many sixs on Sunday was another reminder of just how important he is in the Indian T20I scheme of things. At number 4, Surya will play a very important role in the World Cup for India. In this series, where he scored 46, 0 and 69, SKY played ground shots, once again demonstrating his 360-degree skills. At a time when KL Rahul and even sometimes Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are struggling from match to match, a consistent Surya who is shooting at all costs is worth the weight of him in gold.
It will undoubtedly be one of the great scalps that opposing teams will target at the World Cup.
Hardik Pandia batting and bowling form
Handymen are the most valuable commodities in a T20 team and a well-rounded Hardik Pandya when in song is a sight to behold.
While everyone was busy talking about Virat and Surya and their precious 104-run stand, Hardik’s contribution with the bat in the 3rd T20I against Australia of an unbeaten 25 out of 16 with two fours and a six was dust d ‘ absolute gold.
Hardik Pandya (AFP photo)
Hardik has six over Josh Hazlewood in the first ball of the 19th over, where he picked up a low pitch and whipped him for a maximum on the long is a shot cricket fans will be talking about for some time to come. It was a shot that can only be played by someone who is full of confidence. And this is Hardik for you. Arguably India’s deadliest fast bowling all-rounder, Hardik finished the series as the third highest run count with 105 runs, just behind Green and SKY. His strike rate for the series was nearly 191.
He may not have taken any wickets in the 3T20I series against Australia and may have finished with an economy rate of over 9, but Hardik Pandya has thrown some deliveries in the series that the Australian batters have found very difficult to manage. As the sixth bowling option for Rohit Sharma, Hardik the pitcher could very well be a handful on Australian courses in the World Cup. Hardik will now report to the NCA for conditioning.
Areas of interest:
Bowling of death
It’s no secret that death bowling is India’s biggest area of concern. In the first T20I against Australia, the hoists were unable to defend a score of 208. The Australians looted up to 53 points in their last three overs to win that match.
Rohit Sharma admitted that bowing death remains a concern, with only 3 international T20s left for India to play before the World Cup.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (AFP photo)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar fought death and sent some very expensive 19 overs in the recent past. Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel have just returned to the squad after recovering from injuries and have not yet fully hit the straps. Bumrah, Bhuvi, Harshal and Arshdeep Singh will be India’s top four fast bowling options at the World Cup, along with all-rounder Hardik Pandya. At least three of these five will need to be at the top of their matches for India to consistently do well.
In the 3rd T20I against Australia on Sunday, tourists fought 117/6 after 14 overs. The last 6 overs, however, were 69 runs and ended with an impressive 186/7. On the days when the joke doesn’t go off, the death race losses will be catastrophic.
KL Rahul shape and texture of the first 3
KL Rahul has struggled to find consistency lately. It is not a secret. He had a score of over fifty in the Asian Cup (62) and had a total of 132 points in 5 innings.
In Series 3 T20I against Australia he finished with 66 points in 3 innings, with a strike rate of around 147. He scored four limits and four sixes and a higher score of 55.
KL Rahul (AFP photo)
India will need Rahul to be more consistent at the top.
The management of the team, in fact, will hope that the first 3 ever find consistency. In the 3 T20Is against Australia, the opening wicket stands were worth: 21, 39 and 5.
When Rahul fired, Rohit and Virat couldn’t make an impact. When Rohit took the bowlers to the laundry in the second T20I, Rahul and Virat fell early. On Sunday, when Virat scored 63, Rahul and Rohit together only managed to make 18.
Capture
India lost three catches in the opening T20I to Australia. The third to be honest was very difficult: Harshal Patel dropped Matthew Wade from his own bowling alley.
Good defenders like Axar Patel and KL Rahul have lost catches in this series. Axar lost a hold in the opening match and then another in the third T20I on Sunday when he let Steve Smith out of Hardik’s bowling alley at the back point.
Over the years, India has evolved as one of the best capture and deployment teams in the world. Now, less than a month away from the World Cup, the Men in Blue wouldn’t want those standards to fall.
Pay attention to:
Power that hits
Does India have pure muscle strength? Firepower capable of withstanding any bowling attack at any given time in a match? Planning a chase is something India does well, especially when someone like Virat Kohli is anchoring it. But while beating first, India needs to find the muscle to turn a good score into a great score in the space of a few overs on a consistent basis.
The first T20I against Australia was a prime example of what Indian power shots can do. After the 15th over the hosts were at 141/4, going to 9.40 an over. They finished with 208/6, with Hardik scoring a sparkling 30 ball 71 *. The last three deliveries of the Indian inning have been hit for six by Hardik.
The likes of Hardik, DK and Pant are big hitters in the medium order. If Suryakumar is fighting in death, he too can be extremely destructive. But on a consistent basis, the mighty Indians will have to match the likes of Mitchell Bracewell, Liam Livingstone, Jimmy Neesham, Moeen Ali, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Mohammad Nawaz and others if India is to beat opposition at the World Cup.
