Timid batting to squad imbalance, experts blame planning

India’s highest score after six overs was 46 vs Zimbabwe. A look at the powerplay run rates in this T20 WC

Run rate

Southafrica England

Westindies

Ireland

Bnagladesh Newzealand Afghanistan Scotland

Australia

Pakistan

Zimbabwe

Namibia

Netherlands

UAE

MUMBAI: India captain Rohit Sharma pinned the blame for the semi-final defeat squarely on the bowlers. But few pundits were willing to buy that argument. After another loss in an ICC event — they last won the Champions Trophy in 2013 — many are questioning their flawed T20 template from team make-up to strategy that may have contributed to the downfall.

“India were too timid with the bat. Unfortunately, Rohit and KL (Rahul) have not been able to take the game on in the first six overs. They have got the firepower, but you have to take the game on in T20 cricket,” former Australia allrounder Shane Watson told Star Sports. Watson is not the only one, who believed the match may was lost in the first half of India’s batting essay and not due to the bowlers. A lot of pre-tournament talk centered around India’s top order – Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli and whether they could raise their batting tempo to suit T20 requirements. Their batting class, conditioned to withstand testing batting conditions in the first half the tournament, appeared to work. Kohli’s careerbest 82* (53) against Pakistan raised hopes that he would carry the batting on his shoulders. But on a batting-friendly Adelaide surface against a dynamic England outfit in the knockout match on Thursday, the trio came a cropper. Between the three, they managed only 82 runs in 73 balls. It was Hardik Pandya’s blitz at the end (47 runs in the final 3 overs) that lifted India to 168.

“India was in their shell and totally lost it. They batted with fear. By the time they realised they are behind the game, it was too late,” former Pakistan coach Waqar Younis told A Sports.

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh felt the intent to score was missing. “They were playing like ODI cricket…an outdated way. You must learn from England, how they batted. India’s opening partnerships have been disappointing where the intent to score runs was missing,” Harbhajan told India Today.

He also felt Indian spinners ‘didn’t look to turn the ball’ on a pitch where Adil Rashid excelled, and pin-pointed leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal’s continued absence behind the team’s failure to pick wickets in the middle overs. But India’s preference to pick R Ashwin over Chahal may have been due to the off-spinner’s ability to lend some batting depth to the line-up.

Axar Patel was unable to step up as a batter in Ravindra Jadeja’s absence and the selectors had no one else to turn to.

Former India coach Anil Kumble felt that there is a structural problem in Indian T20 cricket that needs immediate attention. “We need batters who can bowl for the balance of the team. That’s what England have. Even in the India A team, we have batters who cannot bowl,” he told Espncricinfo.

Kumble advocates the same high-risk batting approach for India that he tried with Punjab

Kings during his coaching tenure there. “Communication with players is important on what brand of cricket you would play because it involves a lot of risks and there may be a situation when you get blown away for 80. The team needs to have a buy-in,” he said.

But batters can go all out, Kumble argued, when the batting line-up is deep enough. “That’s why it’s important to say, this is how Indian cricket should play and it should be followed right through the system. I feel the more you play T20s, it’s got to be - where you come and show your power.”

It didn’t help India that Rohit Sharma’s own batting form - 116 runs, SR 106 failed to inspire the team. With the next T20 World Cup two years away, a call on whether the 35-year-old is still the right man for the job will have to be taken by the selectors. Hardik Pandya will be leading the team in the upcoming series in New Zealand, where the seniors are resting.

India were in their shell and totally lost it. They batted with fear. By the time they realised they are behind the game, it was too late WAQAR YOUNIS, Pak legend