IND vs AUS: It was supposed to be a “dress rehearsal” for both the sides going into the all-important T20 World Cup, but in reality it was much more than just a rehearsal. It was a battle between the World Number 1 side in T20s vs the defending Champions. It was a battle against an Australian side who boast one of the deepest and most balanced sides in world cricket at the moment. It was an opportunity to correct the wrongs and get the basics absolutely spot-on, while providing a display of high quality cricket.
And both the sides delivered in equal measure in what was a highly competitive and very evenly-contested series. While India eventually did come out on top, the Australians also gave a good Account of themselves and showed that they are a force to be reckoned with.
So here’s having a look at some of the key talking points from the series-
1. The batting is well and truly settled
The biggest positive that has come out from this series will definitely be the batting display by the Men in blue. In all the games, there were contributions from almost all the top 6 batsmen of the side. The likes of Suryakumar Yadav, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya and Rohit Sharma all got amongst the runs and showed attacking intent right from the outset, with a clear indication that each batter has now well and truly bought in the new attacking mindset with the bat.
Each of the above mentioned batsmen have scored with a strike rate of over 150, and that is a key factor for the side going in Australia, where making the most of the Powerplay will be a key component of how the innings will take shape. With all the leading batters approaching something close to their best form, the batting department looks in fine fettle ahead of the World Cup.
2. Pace bowling struggles
If the batting looks top-notch, the bowling attack looks anything but. What was considered to be a minor anomaly has now gone on to become a glaring obstacle which requires immediate attention. Bhuvaneshwar Kumar seems to be the obvious scapegoat, but the likes of Bumrah and Harshal Patel have not exactly covered themselves with glory either, with all the pacers being taken for plenty in the death overs.
The question remains that why Umesh Yadav was given a game, when Deepak Chahar was in the side, and is also in the list of standbys for the T20 World Cup as well. The least that could be done was replace either Kumar or Harshal, who were clearly under the cosh, and given Chahar a game, to test him against quality opposition. But both were given extra time, and both were happily carted around the park. The hope is that Bumrah and Harshal get their rhythm back quickly after long injuries, or else this could get really ugly in Australia.
3. Team selection needs a rethink
While the team in the last T20 at Hyderabad is more or less the same team that will take the pitch against Pakistan in Melbourne, there are a few questions that need answering in that particular regard. The primary being Kl Rahul at opener. The debate has long ranged whether kl Rahul will be able to buy into this new philosophy of going gung-ho right from the off. While he does have the ability and the skill for it, and has shown glimpses of it in the first game, whether he has the temperament or the fortitude to pull it off consistently is a big question.
His low score in another series decider have raised a lot of questions whether he is the man for the big occasions, and whether Rishabh Pant could be used as an opener. The left-hander has opened the batting quite often in the last couple of months, and can accelerate right from ball 1, thus ending the Pant vs Karthik debate once and for all. It could be a very intriguing next few days to see how things unfold.
4. Axar the spearhead of spin
Since the last year after the T20 World Cup in 2021, Yuzvendra Chahal has been the main spinner, whereas the likes of Bishnoi and jadeja have been support acts. However, since the Asia Cup, it is rather obvious that Chahal cannot have much of an influence when the conditions do not favor his skill and guile, which meant that he was taken for plenty whenever he bowled. Step forward Axar Patel.
The left-armer has brought his uncanny ability to dart the ball into the stumps, a skill that he has bought in from his days playing tennis-ball cricket, and that has been reaping rewards. Axar ended this series with 8 wickets for 63 runs, in his 10 overs. These are brilliant numbers and that has surely thrust him into becoming the lead spinner for the World Cup.
5. R Ashwin’s absence
R Ashwin is at the twilight of his career. The veteran off-spinner has tons of experience in every format, and not to forget that he is one of the smartest cricketers in the world. So what is baffling for everyone to see is him getting picked in every squad, only for him to be benched, and played only against teams who have a majority of left-handers in their batting order.
Surely this is not what defines Ashwin- a spinner who can only bowl to lefties. Because if that is the case, it would be in everyone’s interest to drop him and get in someone like Ravi Bishnoi. Because by picking Ashwin, you are not only blocking a deserving player’s spot, but also wasting Ashwin’s obvious qualities that are much more than just bowling to left handed batsmen.
