The main problem with the Men in Blue’s batting order in the just finished second Twenty20 International match against South Africa was brought to light by former Indian batsman Robin Uthappa. At the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh, India lost the game by a staggering 51 runs. Uthappa believes that batting failure was a big factor in India’s inability to chase the Proteas’ 215-run total.
It is usually reasonable for a team to lose early wickets, according to the former wicketkeeper-batter, but making a significant change in the batting order for that reason can be a classic instance of digging your own grave. Axar Patel moved up from his typical lower-middle order position to bat at three, but Uthappa believes the all-rounder was unaccustomed to that role, which ultimately led to the defeat.
“You can lose early wickets, but after Shubman Gill was out, I felt the batting strategy was the true problem. Axar Patel must play as a pinch-hitter, someone you’re ready to take a chance on early in exchange for quick runs and relieving pressure on Abhishek Sharma, if he’s coming in at that point with such a strong batting lineup. Uthappa stated via Follow the Blues that his 21 off 21 didn’t really accomplish that goal and that he had to slow down and alter his strategy as wickets fell all around him, which hampered the chase.
The former cricket player turned analyst went on to say that a flexible lineup can only be effective if the hitters understand their jobs. He believes that asking players to bat at different spots makes things more difficult and ultimately results in a loss. “The Suryakumar Yadav-led side was being a little extra flexible,” he said in closing.
“Batters at the international level require defined duties and a clear understanding of how they will construct an innings. After the first six to eight overs, matchup flexibility is OK, but you still need a strong foundation before chasing a large score because you can’t construct a skyscraper without a base. Run-scoring becomes more difficult when players are asked to prepare for many roles in the same game, and that is where India is falling short. “Being too flexible so early in the innings beyond the openers is something I disagree with,” Uthappa said.
With three games remaining, the series is now level at 1-1 after India lost the second game of the five-match assignment.
The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala will host the third Twenty20 International on Sunday, December 14. It will be intriguing to observe whether the hosts’ batting order changes during this match.
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