VVS Laxman, the former veteran Indian batsman believes the ruthlessness T20I leaders England displayed in winning the first T20I against India means the hosts will have to put their best resources into use and be on the top of their game to win the five-match series.
The hosts will take on England in the second T20I in Ahmedabad on Sunday, after a one-sided eight-wicket defeat in the first match.
VVS Laxman: England Have Put The Test Series Loss Behind Them
VVS Laxman said the visitors have put the Test series loss behind them and look charged up for the white-ball leg of the tour while writing in his column for The Times of India on Sunday,
“Already, it is clear that the diffidence and hesitancy of the Test series are behind them,” VVS Laxman mentioned in the column.
“A true surface with good pace and carry helped them execute their plans with authority, though they will be the first to admit they received generous assistance from India.”
India could only manage a paltry 124 which is credited to the pace attack of England, led by Jofra Archer, that deflated the Indian batting line-up, which was without Rohit Sharma. Jofra Archer was one of England’s many star performers picking the wickets of KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, and Shardul Thakur along the way. India was reeling at 20/3 but Shreyas Iyer bailed them out to reach a modest 124 by scoring 67 runs off 48 balls which included 8 fours and a six.
VVS Laxman Felt In Form Rohit Sharma Should Have Played The Opening T20I And India Got Their Bowling Combination Wrong
VVS Laxman felt it wasn’t the right decision to rest the in-form India opener.
“Especially when you are playing the best team in the world, it’s imperative to put out your strongest side. While the idea of giving game-time to Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul is laudable, the in-form Rohit Sharma should have played in the opening game. I’d love to see Rohit return to the side immediately,” wrote VVS Laxman.
VVS Laxman also disagreed with India’s choice of playing three spinners in the first T20I which was played on a surface that offered assistance to seamers.
“I think India also got their bowling combination wrong,” VVS Laxman stated.
In the match, India went in with three frontline spinners namely Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, and Yuzvendra Chahal while England went in with four frontline seamers namely Sam Curran, Chris Jordon, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, and all-rounder Ben Stokes also chipped in with a few overs.
“Even though Hardik Pandya has started bowling, they would have been better off with an additional seamer instead of a third spinner. There was no dew on Friday night; but listening to both the captains at the toss, it was clear they were wary of dew as the match went deeper.”
“In any case, this track bore no resemblance to the dry deck on offer for the Test matches in Ahmedabad, so the extra spinner was almost superfluous,” he added.
He suggested that Indian batsmen will have to strategize their Powerplay (first 6 overs) approach and options.
“There can’t be one template for all. While there has been talking of conservatism in the way India has gone about things in the Powerplay, it’s a formula that has worked for them. By going against their grain and trying to tee off from the beginning, India didn’t do themselves any favours,” VVS Laxman further wrote.
The veteran, who retired after playing 134 Tests and 86 ODIs, said India will have to “raise their game” considerably to put up a fight in the remainder of the series.
“India has reiterated their ability to bounce back more than once in the recent past, but England’s ruthlessness with the bat and their bowling brilliance will require Virat Kohli’s men to raise their game significantly over the next week.”
India lost 3 early wickets after scoring only 20 runs on board. They managed only 22 runs in the first 6 Powerplay overs as opposed to England’s 50 runs. English pacers scalped six out of the seven Indian wickets.