Lack of left-handed batsmen might be trouble in the CWC 2019 for India | Legendary batsmen Sachin Tendulkar begs to differ
India is going into the World Cup with only one main left handed batsmen in Shikhar Dhawan; which could spell trouble with enough evidence of a mixed batting line-up gives significant advantage in the modern limited over game.
“Ideally left-right combination is something which disturbs the bowler’s line and length and also the captain has to readjust his fielding,” said Indian batting legend Tendulkar in an interview ahead of the World Cup.
- Opener Shikhar Dhawan is the only regular batsmen who is a southpaw in an Indian top order dominated by right-handed batters.
- All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is another left-handed batsman but his irregular form has kept the spinner-batsmen from a regular place the line up
- Sachin Tendulkar has opined that Team India has enough firepower to cope up and nullify the disadvantage.
- Indian batting line-up boasts a top order of three world-class batsmen that can match any batting order in the world, but no. 4 is a worry.
As per Reuters, Tendulkar stated that what matters is having good quality batters. He displayed confidence in India’s current batsmen and their ability to pack a punch.
The number four spot which is a worry is likely to be filled up by youngster KL Rahul who scored a century in the practice match against Bangladesh.
The other centurion from the practice match was India’s ex-skipper and wicketkeeper MS Dhoni who is considered one of the best finishers in the world. Dhoni’s 341 ODIs make him the most experienced player at the CWC 2019.
Dhoni is crucial to India’s fortunes
Sachin also believes that Dhoni’s expertise and communication with bowlers and fielders from behind the wickets will be crucial to India’s fortunes. He said:
“It’s important that someone who’s standing behind the wickets has played for such a long time and has also led India and is in the best possible position to figure out what’s happening off the surface,”
‘Complete’ bowling line up to win third time
Sachin also asserted confidence in India’s bowling line up opining that the India has a ‘complete’ bowling attack this time which can win the title for a third time.
Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah is the top-ranked ODI bowler in ICC ratings. Spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav also rank among the top 10 bowlers in the world at present. Sachin said:
“We have Bhuvneshwar who swings the ball, Shami who is skiddy off the pitch, Bumrah who is the number one bowler in the world in this format. We have Chahal and Kuldeep who are wrist spinners. And we have supporting bowlers in Hardik, Vijay Shankar and Kedar Jadhav. So, all in all a well-balanced bowling attack I would say.”
