India registered a dominating 302-run win over Sri Lanka in their last World Cup fixture but more than the win and the way bowlers bowled, it was Shubman Gill (92-ball 92) and Shreyas Iyer (56-ball 82) making substantial contributions which would have done a world of good to their and team’s confidence. Both right-handers played contrasting knocks but it was important for them to get the big score on the board as the tournament heads into the business end.
With Hardik Pandya now out of the tournament, India have no option but to compromise the batting depth – having a Shardul Thakur/R Ashwin at No.8 – and go ahead with five specialist bowlers. Not only does that leave India a bowler short but also someone who could contribute at No.8, something which the management was insistent on even before the Asia Cup got underway. No Pandya leaves the side with six specialist batters and Jadeja at No.7.
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While the specialist approach has been so far so good with India comfortably beating New Zealand, England and Sri Lanka, it could well be tested in the knockouts. The knockouts which have been the banana peel for the Men in Blue in recent ICC tournaments. The role of the top-six then becomes very crucial as they would have to do bulk of the scoring for the side. That is why the Gill and Iyer piece was crucial for the batting to continue with the formidable shape. Before that Sri Lanka game, both Gill and Iyer had starts but were unable to capitalise and convert into a big one. Something which Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul have managed to do at least once in the tournament.
‘Was nice to see Shubman’
At the pre-match presser, coach Rahul Dravid said it was important for the team to remain in good form and revealed it hasn’t been easy for Gill post the bout with dengue.
“I think it’s important that we are in good form. We’re playing really good cricket. I think both of the guys, it was nice to see Shubman. And Shubman’s obviously coming back. I think for him, he was in such good form and playing so well. It was just a little unfortunate for him that he picked up dengue at the start of the tournament. And it’s taken him a little bit of time to get over that. I think we underestimate. You underestimate the kind of effect something like that can have on you, and then having to come out and play in the heat and travel. And it’s been quite a hectic tournament as well,” says Dravid.
Like Gill, Iyer too was getting positive starts but came out all guns blazing at the Wankhede where he fired a 56-ball 82 to give the total a much-needed push in the middle-overs.
“And Shreyas as well, I think again he is someone who has been, he has batted well, but just hasn’t, maybe in a few of the games, hasn’t gone on and ticked on and got a big score. So just for him to come out yesterday, and I mean a couple of days ago, and play in the manner that he did, just coming in straight away and recognizing that a platform had been set, a base had been set, and it was a good wicket, and we knew we needed to get 325, 330 plus on that kind of wicket and 320 we reckoned was par actually,” says Dravid on Iyer.
With the foundation set courtesy Gill and Kohli, the attack by Iyer pushed the side over the par total. Dravid was all praise for Iyer’s courage and temperament to just “come out and play like that”.
“So, we wanted to go hard and for him to have that courage and the skill to be able to execute that performance knowing that he hadn’t got runs in the last 2-3 games, I think speaks volumes about him as a person and his temperament. It’s not easy to come out and play like that when you’ve had a couple of tough games behind you. And also, just the kind of support that he’s received from the skipper and the rest of the team. I think it’s a really good sign to see that both from his side and also just the kind of support he’s been receiving and the confidence he’s been receiving in spite of one or two games which might not have gone as well as he would have liked,” says Dravid.
Dravid backs lower-order
Without Pandya, which means without Ashwin/Shardul too, India’s tail wears a long look but Dravid has put his weight behind the 8,9,10 and 11 and asserted that they have done well in the only opportunity they have got in the game vs England in Lucknow.
“I think there’s only been one game where we’ve probably felt the need for the number eight and nine which was a game against England in Lucknow and actually our number eight and nine – after the seventh wicket the next couple of wickets gave us 46 critical runs on a tricky wicket. So, I think we got to have confidence in our 8, 9, 10, 11.
“The ones that we have now, I think they are working very hard and they are doing the best that they can. And I don’t think the batsmen really, to be honest, need to think about it or worry about it. I think if you play good cricket through the 50 overs and play according to the situation and what the demands of the game are, I think there’s enough quality in that top seven to look after itself. And to look after itself,” says Dravid.
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