World Cup Twenty20 Debacle

India failed to reach the last four of the Twenty20 World Cup twice in succession. Besides that they were also failed to reach semis of ICC Champions Trophy held in South Africa. The prime reason the experts point out for the debacle is the same: ‘Indian batsmen’s weakness against short-stuff’. But I don’t agree with that reasoning completely. Let me come to that point later.

In my view, the reasons for the defeat were: i) Team India didn’t get good starts while batting ii) Team’s main batsman Yuvraj was out of sorts iii) The team was playing with too many bits and pieces players and iv) Fast bowlers were not penetrative.

Gambhir was coming into the tournament slightly out of sorts. He had just then recovered from an injury and did not infuse confidence going into the tournament. He was Team India’s leading batsmen in all formats for past couple of seasons. His lack of form was one of the major factors. Sehwag’s replacement Murali Vijay, who had a fantastic IPL, did not reproduce his form in the world cup. So, Team India suffered on the opening front.

Yuvraj is Team India’s best batsman in both shorter and shortest format. He was totally out of sorts in IPL. His form and fitness was a major concern going into the tournament. Indian team lacked the killer instinct and the momentum which he brings to the team.

Next thing is Dhoni’s adamance in persisting with bits and pieces players like Yusuf Pathan and Ravindra Jadeja. They are neither proper batsmen nor bowlers. Atleast Yusuf has the ability to turn on a game on his day. But it was not done often in International Cricket. Only genuine all-rounder available in our country at this moment is Irfan Pathan. I don’t know why Dhoni is not backing him. Agreed, Irfan’s primary skill – bowling had waned over the years. But he is a special talent and should be backed by the selectors and team management. Well, India should have played three seamers and Piyush Chawla in Barbados instead of these bits and pieces players. Only in previous game against Proteas Chawla was doing well. Dhoni should remember that he is captaining Team India and not Kiwi’s team.

Zaheer was totally out of sorts. Nehra was the only pacer looking like taking wickets. Unfortunately, he was clobbered for six off the last ball of the match, which resulted in Srilanka’s win. India have good crop of pace bowlers but most of them are either out of form or not fit.

Coming to the issue of Indian batsmen’s weakness against short-pitch stuff, Indian batsmen are traditionally suspect against short-pitch stuff. Then, what is the solution? It is all about adapting to different conditions. Only Rahul and Sachin among current crop of batsmen are very good against short-pitch stuffs. For some strange reasons they are not part of Twenty20 setup and moreover Rahul is no more part of one-day scheme of things as well. Though Sehwag is not good with pull and hook, he had lot of success with upper cuts. That is an attacking option for the fellow Indian batsmen to follow. Indian batsmen should remember what Greg Chappell told Ganguly about playing short stuff. One will receive only one legal short-stuff per over. So, don’t expect short-stuff all the time. Of course one should be immediately adapted  to general bounce of the pitch.