India’s head coach Rahul Dravid has hinted that they might need something different while playing against Afghanistan at Barbados in the Super 8 stage of the ongoing T20 World Cup. While the conditions in New York were conducive for the seamers, India played three frontline pacers, plus Hardik Pandya, however the pitches in the West Indies are expected to assist the spinners.
Dravid indicated that they might include either Kuldeep Yadav or Yuzvendra Chahal in the starting XI. Kuldeep scalped 16 wickets in 11 matches for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024 whereas Yuzvendra Chahal bagged 18 wickets in 15 matches for Rajasthan Royals.
Rahul Dravid said as quoted by PTI, “It’s tough to leave anyone out. New York had pace bowlers conditions… slightly different. We might need something different here (in Barbados). Yuzi (Chahal) or Kuldeep (Yadav) could be used here. We are lucky to have players with all-round abilities. We had eight batters but we (also) had seven bowling options.”
Dravid reckons the team needs a lot of flexibility in the batting order in T20s, depending on the match situation.
“Each situation is unique. Can’t set it in stone. I believe in flexibility. The Pakistan game we moved Axar (Patel), specifically thinking around it… Rishabh (Pant) up the order (at No. 3), lots of thinking goes into it. I don’t think in Tests (cricket), we will have that flexibility. In T20s where it is a lot about match-ups, you see it happening more,” he explained.
The former Indian skipper added they can not afford to be complacent against Afghanistan, especially in the shortest format.
“Certainly, in this format, they are not a team that should be taken lightly and they are deservedly in the Super 8s. We will not treat them any differently as we would treat any other team we expect to play in the Super 8s,” he commented.
India will begin their Super 8 campaign against Afghanistan at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados on Thursday.
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