TimesofIndia.com here takes a look at the big positives for Rohit Sharma and co. and some of the remaining major areas of concern.
The positive points :
Virat Kohli occupying seat number 3
Virat Kohli’s form has been talked about so much over the past few years that it’s somewhat odd not to read several headlines about him battling the bat.
As for Team India, the former India captain ending a 1,021-day wait for his 71st international was a big signal that prolific hitting Virat might be back. With the T20 World Cup just around the corner, the way Virat played in Game 3 of the T20I series against Australia was a big positive for the Men in Blue as they eye their first T20 World Cup title. since winning the inaugural edition under the leadership of MS Dhoni. in 2007.
Virat Kohli (photo PTI)
Virat will also play at the all-important World Cup number 3 and in the game against Australia on Sunday he used all his experience not only to stabilize the pursuit but also to switch very effectively between aggressor and anchor . His 48 63 balls were crucial for the hosts as they chased a very tricky target of 187 runs.
From a personal and team point of view, this blow was important. In the first two matches, Virat managed scores of 2 and 11. Virat’s strike rate is also something he and the team management will keep an eye on. Overall, he finished as the fifth-best run getter in the series (76 runs) with a series completion rate of 124.59.
Virat is an impact player and more importantly he looked confident after that shot. Virat’s high confidence is an asset India hope to bring to the World Cup in October.
Suryakumar Yadav do what he does best
There is no doubt that Suryakumar Yadav is India’s best T20I batsman right now. In fact, he is now the T20I’s biggest run-getter in 2022. He currently has 682 runs this year at an average of 38. In this 3 game series against Australia, SKY finished second highest (115 runs), just 3 points behind Cameron Green (118). His strike rate in the series was 185.48.
The duck in the rain-shortened second game that was reduced to a matter of 8 overs per side was an aberration.
Suryakumar Yadav (AP Photo)
His 69 of 36 with five fours and as many sixes on Sunday was another reminder of how important he is in India’s T20I scheme. At number 4, Surya will play a very big role in the World Cup for India. In this series, where he had scores of 46, 0 and 69, SKY played shots around the ground, once again demonstrating his 360 degree abilities. At a time when KL Rahul and also sometimes Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli struggle from game to game, a consistent Surya firing on all cylinders is worth his weight in gold.
He will undoubtedly be one of the big scalps that opposing teams will be targeting at the World Cup.
Hardik Pandya batting form and bowling
All-rounders are a T20 team’s most valuable product and a fully fit Hardik Pandya when singing is a sight to behold.
While everyone was busy talking about Virat and Surya and their extremely valuable 104 run support, Hardik’s contribution with the bat in the 3rd T20I against Australia of an unbeaten 25 of 16 with two fours and one six was absolute gold dust.
Hardik Pandya (Photo AFP)
Hardik’s six against Josh Hazlewood on the first pitch of the 19th, where he picked up a low pitch and whipped for maximum time is a shot cricket fans will be talking about for some time to come. It was a shot that can only be played by someone overflowing with confidence. And that’s Hardik for you. By far India’s deadliest fast bowler, Hardik finished the series as the third-best run-geter with 105 runs, just behind Green and SKY. His strike rate for the series was nearly 191.
He may not have taken any wickets in the 3T20I series against Australia and he may have finished with a save rate of over 9 but Hardik Pandya played a few deliveries in the series that the batters Australians have found it very difficult to manage. As the sixth bowling option for Rohit Sharma, Hardik the bowler could well be a handful on Australia’s World Cup grounds. Hardik will now report to the NCA for conditioning.
Areas of concern:
bowling of the living dead
It’s no secret that death bowling is India’s biggest concern. In the first T20I against Australia, the tackles couldn’t defend a score of 208. The Australians plundered up to 53 points in the last three overs to win this game.
Rohit Sharma has admitted dead bows remain a concern, with only 3 T20 internationals remaining for India to play ahead of the World Cup.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Photo AFP)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has struggled to death and sent quite a few very expensive 19th overs in the recent past. Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel have just returned to the squad after recovering from injuries and are yet to fully hit their straps. Bumrah, Bhuvi, Harshal and Arshdeep Singh will be India’s top four fast bowling options at the World Cup, along with versatile Hardik Pandya. At least three of those five players will need to be on top of their game for India to succeed consistently.
In the 3rd T20I against Australia on Sunday, the Tourists were struggling at 117/6 after 14 overs. The last 6 overs however lasted 69 runs and ended with an imposing 186/7. On days when the stick doesn’t click, leaks to death will be catastrophic.
KL Rahul’s form and top 3 consistency
KL Rahul has struggled to find consistency lately. It’s not a secret. He had a score of over fifty in the Asian Cup (62) and had a total of 132 runs in 5 innings.
In Series 3 T20I against Australia, he finished with 66 runs over 3 innings, with a strike rate of around 147. He hit four boundaries and four sixes and a high score of 55.
India will need Rahul to be more consistent at the top.
The management of the team hopes that the first 3 in the general classification will find consistency. In the 3 T20I against Australia, the opening wickets were worth – 21, 39 and 5.
When Rahul fired, Rohit and Virat couldn’t make an impact. When Rohit took the bowlers to the cleaners in the second T20I, Rahul and Virat fell early. On Sunday, when Virat scored 63, Rahul and Rohit combined only managed to score 18.
Contagious
India lost three holds in the first T20I against Australia. The third to be fair was very difficult – Harshal Patel dropped Matthew Wade from his own bowling alley.
Good defenders like Axar Patel and KL Rahul have lost holds in this series. Axar actually lost a hold in the opener and then another in the third T20I on Sunday, when he dropped Steve Smith from Hardik’s bowling to the backspot.
Over the years, India has become one of the best catching and fielding teams in the world. Now, with the World Cup less than a month away, the Men in Blue wouldn’t want those standards to drop.
Pay attention to:
Power Strike
Does India have raw muscle power? Firepower capable of taking on any bowling attack at any time during a match? Planning a hunt is something India does well, especially when someone like Virat Kohli anchors it. But while battling first, India must find the muscle to turn a good score into a great one in the space of a few overs consistently.
The first T20I against Australia was a great example of what Indian power strikes can do. After the 15th over, the hosts were at 141/4, dropping to 9.40 over. They finished with 208/6, Hardik scoring a scintillating 30 ball 71*. The last three deliveries of India’s innings were hit for six by Hardik.
The likes of Hardik, DK and Pant are big hitters in the middle order. If Suryakumar is at bat in deathmatches, he too can be extremely destructive. But on a consistent basis India’s power hitters will need to match Mitchell Bracewell, Liam Livingstone, Jimmy Neesham, Moeen Ali, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Mohammad Nawaz and others if India are to beat the opposition at the World Cup . .