October 15, 2024

India’s Expanding Bowling Options with Versatile Part-Time Bowlers

India’s performance in Delhi was not only marked by strong batting but also an impressive bowling display. Seven different bowlers took wickets, setting a record for India in a T20I match. Surprisingly, Hardik Pandya wasn’t among them. Suryakumar Yadav, who had plenty of options, didn’t need to bowl himself or call on Rinku Singh, despite Rinku being key in securing a tie against Sri Lanka just months earlier. In fact, Yadav could have used up to 10 bowlers across the two matches in Delhi and Gwalior, though fortunately, it didn’t come to that, as he had hoped at the start of the series.

India has often faced challenges with relying on batters who can’t bowl. While Axar Patel’s rise has provided some relief, the team struggled during the last ODI World Cup when Hardik Pandya’s injury left them with just four frontline bowlers and an all-rounder. However, the current squad is different. Nitish Reddy, who opened the bowling in Delhi, and Riyan Parag, who thrived in spin-friendly Sri Lankan conditions, offer more bowling depth. Abhishek Sharma, with 134 overs under his belt in T20s and an economy rate just over seven, adds further strength. Yadav and Rinku’s recent clutch performances in Pallekele also remain fresh in memory.

“The way the game is going, it is very rare that all five bowlers or even six bowlers are going to go well on the day. So it is nice to have options,” said India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate. “Ideally you want them to bowl a little bit more but yeah, someone like Hardik not bowling in the last game is just testament to the depth in the bowling team.

“Balance is so important. You don’t want to get into a position where you have too many [frontline] bowlers, and it’s the same with batters. [Having so many all-round options] does give us a chance to pick a specialist bowler when one is available, when we think the difference is big enough to do that. But it gives the captain so many options.”

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Strategic Depth and Versatility: Ryan on India’s Selection Approach Ahead of Major Tournaments

Ryan said that “carefully selected” players who can fulfill “multiple roles” has allowed India to work with an unprecedented depth in the series and will offer the team good selection headaches come the World Cups and Champions Trophy.

“It is good to see the depth we have had so far. These guys can fill multiple roles which are so important for balance depending on where we play. You look at someone like Riyan. He hasn’t done it in the series but we see him as someone who can bat a four and five as well as being a finisher. So it is trying to fit as many of those pieces together as we can in these bilateral series. We are still keeping winning as the priority in each series.”

“The players are very carefully selected. Ideally, yes, you want to build a strong core of players but this is an overlapping series and there’s the Champions Trophy coming up, there’s the Asia Cup coming up and the World Cup coming up. We want to know where everyone stands in Indian cricket.”

“What’s been important in this series is understanding some of the guys that have come into the team for the first time. Two debuts [Mayank Yadav and Nitish Reddy] in the first T20I, which is really important. And just having the guys around – Jitesh and the guys that haven’t played, Tilak and Harshit – and seeing how they operate and what strings we need to pull to get the best out of them because they are going to be important certainly in the next 18-month period.”

India’s depth in this series is clear, even from the players waiting on the sidelines. Jitesh Sharma and Tilak Varma, both talented batters, have yet to get a chance to play. Meanwhile, Sanju Samson, who has stepped in as an opener, is eager for another opportunity. On the bowling side, Harshit Rana is also set to make his debut, adding further strength to the squad.

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Embracing Fearless Batting and Building Depth: Ryan on India’s Strategic Focus

“Obviously Tilak came into the squad a bit later, Jitesh is there as well, but we want to give Sanju another chance, so there are options,” Ryan said.

“We are trying to expose as many guys as we can to international experience with what we have got coming up. So someone like Harshit Rana we are keen to give a game to. And certainly the plan originally was to win the series and then try a few new faces for the last game.”

Ryan also highlighted why they are keen to give Sanju another chance and how his innings in Gwalior underscored the team’s philosophy of fearless batting.

“If you look back at the first two games, someone like Sanju got a quick start in the first game in Gwalior, it would have been easy for him to knock it around and just get a 50-60 not out. But you can see he is trying to push the boundary. He knows the state of the game and the messaging has been pretty consistent with that.,” Ryan said.

“We are trying to push the limits of what we can do as a team. We have obviously got the quality to do it. And then it is about giving the players the belief to do it in a safe space to know that if it is not going to go right, it is also okay.

“We want guys to expand their own games. We want to move cricket forward like it is going with the times. And we want to be prepared for the big crunch moments that are coming up in the next 18 months.”

“It is just giving them the freedom to know that they can go out there and do it without backing. And they are certainly good enough to do it. So it is just a matter of looking to score and looking to hit every single ball in the 120 balls.”

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