SYDNEY: Is caution the new watchword in the World Cup for India’s top order batters in the Powerplay?
Captain Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid have both harped in the last few months on adopting a more belligerent batting approach in the Powerplay but the early summer conditions in Australia may necessitate a shift in plans.
With conditions in favour of the bowlers and the ball either zipping around in Melbourne and Perth and sort of stopping and coming at the SCG here, a safety-first approach could be more important, instead of trying to go hammer and tongs at the new ball.
Suryakumar Yadav, asked if Rohit Sharma had reverted to a watchful approach while opening, said, “Everyone has different plans when we go in to bat, and it’s equally important what their gameplan is. So they (Rohit and Kohli) are doing the same thing, trying to get their eye in.”
This is in stark contrast to what Rohit had said earlier in August. “After the T20 World Cup in Dubai, when we didn’t qualify, we felt there needs to be a change in our attitude, to our approach in how we play the game. So we had a clear message given to the boys,” Rohit had told Star Sports.
Suryakumar, however, hinted that the adverse batting conditions in Australia had not been entirely expected. “Obviously you have to assess the conditions,” he said, “The last two wickets were completely different to what we played today. It was a little slow (at the SCG) and in the last game it was quick and bouncy. So you have to adjust,” he said.
“Also, everyone must be having their own plan, and they are trying to execute it. Hopefully, we will come out again and do the same.”
Preserving wickets at the top for a late assault may be a conventional idea borrowed from the ODI game, but here in Australia it could be the way to go in this tournament.
