Indian Varun Chakaravarthy with his teammates (ANI photo)
As India prepares for their Super 8 knockout clash against West Indies in Kolkata, former batting coach Sanjay Bangar stressed the need for discipline with the ball against a Caribbean team known for its gritty play.The contest revives memories of the 2016 T20 World Cup semi-final encounter in Mumbai and carries similarly high stakes. Analyzing the challenge facing JioHotstar, Bangar pointed out the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket and the attacking mentality of the West Indies batsmen.
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“In T20 cricket, you have to be open to getting hit because the batsmen will come at you hard. There are times when they might get off to a shaky start and they can get to 60 without losing.
But with this aggressive approach and focus on the boundaries, they can quickly slide to 84 for 4 as well, within 20 odd innings.”India will look to experienced activists like Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakaravarthy to limit the threat to power and seize the momentum by making timely breakthroughs. Banjar stressed that clarity in implementation will be crucial.“That’s why I think the Indian team should stick to their bowling plans and make smart use of their wicket-taking options.
“Using Varun Chakaravarthy and Jasprit Bumrah against them will be crucial,” Bangar added.He also provided technical advice to Chakaravarthy, who saw a slight dip in returns during the Super 8 stage, especially after his spell against Zimbabwe.“I thought he was a bit short against the Zimbabwe players. The majority of his passes were long range, and many of the boundaries scored came from that area.
So, I think it would be better for him to push the ball a little further and try to hit the stumps. This was one of Varun Chakaravarthy’s strengths. If a batsman misses, either his leg is trapped before the wicket or he bowls.”Bangar also explained how Chakaravarthy can face the in-form Shimron Hetmyer.“Hetmyer looks to target long-on or mid-wicket, with a large share of his runs coming in that area. So, bowling that one from outside the off-stump to the line of the fourth off-stump, a little wider outside off, means that if he tries to go over the line, there’s always a chance of taking the wicket to Varun Chakaravarthy.”Hetmyer has been the standout performer for the West Indies, amassing 221 runs in six innings at an average of 44.20 and a strike rate of 182.64, including two half-centuries. Meanwhile, Chakaravarthy remains India’s leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 11 strikes at an average of just over 13, despite a quieter Super 8 stretch.With a place in the semi-finals at stake, India’s ability to blend patience and precision in their bowling plans could determine the outcome of this high-pressure encounter.