Touring Indians continue to experiment with their middle-order on their UK trip
DUBLIN: INDIA will continue to experiment with their middle order in the Twenty20 games against Ireland and England, captain Virat Kohli said after the team made a winning start to a lengthy tour on Wednesday.
India shuffled their middle order in a 76-run victory over Ireland, allowing the likes of Suresh Raina and all-rounder Hardik Pandya to bat up the order.
“Look, we’ve already announced we will experiment with the middle-order a lot,” said Kohli, 29.
“Even in the next few T20 games, even in England, we will look to throw in guys and surprise the opposition. We’re going to give everyone a go in this series. The management and me as captain decided it.”
India also have KL Rahul and keeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik in their ranks and are certain to play in the remaining T20 matches against the Irish and English.
Spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who picked up 3/38 on Wednesday, suggested that the team did not read too much into England’s unbeaten performances in the five-match one-day international series and one-off T20 against Australia.
“England have scored against Australia, they haven’t scored against us. English spinners have also picked up wickets, so that is also a plus point for us,” the 27-year old said, before quashing claims of wrist spinners guaranteeing success.
“It’s not like wrist spinners are necessary for winning, it is just a recent trend. It is just that the batsmen are mentally more under pressure against wrist spinners and variation.”
India play their final T20 against Ireland today and take on England in a threematch series starting on Tuesday. — Reuters