Former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin reckons India were not up to the mark after their 17-run win against the Netherlands at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Wednesday. India posted 193 runs on the board after Shivam Dube top-scored with 66 runs off just 31 balls.
Indian openers Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma were dismissed cheaply whereas Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma could not convert their starts despite facing more than 25 deliveries. SKY and Varma also could not accelerate and scored below the strike rate of 125 each. Ashwin was not impressed with India’s top-order batting.
“Surya played a very diligent knock. For the acceleration point, Dube, Hardik, and Rinku were there. They knew they could catch up on the scoring rate. But India wasn’t extremely good today with the bat, not extremely efficient. But it is such a solid team that even on their ordinary day, they can put you away. They were below par, not at their best,” Ashwin said on ‘Ash ki Baat’.
Ashwin said Tilak Varma is not getting his timing right after making a comeback from injury. Varma, who scored 31 runs off 27 balls against the Dutch, has scored 106 runs in four matches of the competition at an average of 26.50 and a mundane strike rate of 120.45.
“Tilak Varma is coming back after an injury. We talk about power and strength but sweet spot and timing as the basic essence of batting. Tilak is not a big power hitting. For him timing and sweet spot are most important. Please remember you can play like Vaibhav but you can also play like Tilak, who relies on timing and picks the gaps.”
Ashwin praised Shivam Dube for his match-winning knock. Dube smashed 66 runs with the help of four fours and six maximums.
“We all know that Dube is a clean striker against spin. Whenever the ball is far, he hits it farther. He gives full extension and doesn’t bring his feet in the line. He clears his foot, increasing the distance between himself and the ball, which enables him to hit harder. Then it does not matter whether it is spinning in or away. Whenever there is a need, he always scores runs. Remember the last World Cup as well. We have to praise him,” he said.
India will take on South Africa in their opening game of the Super 8 stage at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on Sunday.
