India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate stated that the team’s batsmen need solid strategies to handle challenging conditions, especially on uneven pitches and fields with long boundaries. He pointed out that making smart adjustments will be crucial for India as they head into the Super 8 rounds of the T20 World Cup, starting Saturday, February 21.
In a follow-up interview after India’s win against the Netherlands, ten Doeschate noted that despite being tournament favorites, the team has not yet delivered a complete performance.
With India’s opening batsmen—Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Tilak Varma—being left-handers, ten Doeschate explained that this has slightly aided opposing teams in planning their bowling strategies.
Opposing teams have been employing off-spinners during the power play to limit India’s opening trio. Abhishek Sharma, who was in good form recently, has yet to score in the tournament. On Wednesday, Netherlands off-spinner Aryan Dutt took both Abhishek and Ishan in just three overs during the power play.
Doeschate believes the issue is not only with off-spinners but also with how the team deals with finger spinners overall, an area needing improvement. India has upcoming Super 8 matches against South Africa, Zimbabwe, and the West Indies, and they must develop a strategy to face finger spin challenges.
Ten Doeschate remarked:
“It has (made it easier for teams to plan against India). We don’t have many options (in the top three). We have got Sanju sitting on the side, and we feel, on balance, particularly with the games coming up, if we look at what finger spin is, we are going to come up against New Zealand. We have got a few guys who bowl finger spin, and so do the West Indies, and South Africa if you include Markram. But on balance, we still feel that these are our best batters and we are going to make do with the abundance of left-handers.”
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As India progresses into the Super 8 rounds, the focus will be on adaptability and understanding rather than solely on reputation. Ryan ten Doeschate’s remarks highlight concerns about the team’s strategy against finger spinners, especially on pitches with longer boundaries. The opposition has already started to focus on India’s left-heavy top order with off-spin during powerplay overs. However, if the batsmen can formulate their strategy and perform effectively, India will remain a strong contender for the T20 World Cup trophy.
