India captain Suryakumar Yadav (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Former India all-rounder Irvan Pathan, part of the team that won the ICC World T20, has urged the Men in Blue to prioritize winning their upcoming T20 World Cup matches rather than worrying about net run rate calculations ahead of the crucial encounter against Zimbabwe.
Pathan also suggested that captain Suryakumar Yadav could bat at number three to provide balance to the top order which is dominated by left-handers.India’s title defense has reached a tense stage. After a record 76-point win over South Africa, the defending champions now face a tough road ahead. They must rely on South Africa remaining unbeaten while securing wins over Zimbabwe and West Indies to keep their tournament hopes alive.
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If this scenario falters, the net employment rate may decide India’s fate.
With the West Indies boasting a net employment rate above +5 and South Africa more than +3, India’s negative net employment rate makes it unlikely that these countries will be able to catch up. Even one misstep by the Proteas could end India’s campaign.Speaking to JioStar’s Follow the Blues programme, Pathan said: “I really hope that the pitch for net run rate is not implemented at the start of the game. The priority should be to win the game first.”
So, perform well and try to win. Only then should you consider the operating rate. If you start thinking about chasing the net run rate in the West Indies for example, it is almost impossible. This means beating teams like Zimbabwe and West Indies by 100 runs, which is no easy feat in T20 cricket.
So, I sincerely hope that when the Indian team plays the next two matches, the primary focus will simply be on winning first.The left side has largely dominated India’s top order, with Abhishek Sharma,
Ishan Kishan
And Tilak Varma is leading the charge. While Ishan showed glimpses of his form, Abhishek struggled, scoring just 15 runs in four innings, including three ducks. Tilak made 107 runs in five innings but at a strike rate of just over 118, which is below India’s usual explosive T20 style. Both Abhishek and Ishaan have struggled against spin.Pathan also explained the cautious approach adopted by Yadav, whose strike rate in the mid-30s reflects the lack of reliable support at the top.
However, he believes that moving the leader to third could provide balance and reduce the dominance of left-handers.“I think Surya can bat at number three. From a team point of view, I understand the conservative approach, especially since Abhishek was getting out early. In the last match, Ishan Kishan was out in the first over. You don’t want to expose Suryakumar Yadav at number three when he is so effective in the middle, batting at 160. If something goes wrong with the new ball, just one good delivery can get him out.”
So, I understand the thinking. However, they still need to consider batting Suryakumar Yadav at number three to break the monotony of having three left-handers at the top.