Former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer has asked the Indian team to add an extra batter for the 2nd T20 against West Indies on Sunday and wants the team to be wary of the explosive West Indies batting lineup as they can take the game away from India with their aggressive approach in batting.
Team India lost the opening encounter against the Men in Maroon after being well-set in the chase in Trinidad and Tobago. The young Indian team could not chase down the total in the 2nd innings as they lost wickets at regular intervals to lose the game by 4 runs at the end.
Speaking to Espncricinfo, Wasim Jaffer wants the Indian team to add an extra batter to play in the 2nd ODI as they need to drop one of the Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal for the game and said that they want to use young Tilak Varma as the opener in the team, who can also chip in as a bowler in the team.
“You want a batter or all-rounder at No.8. Available options are Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel. If Axar comes at No. 8, you can afford to play only one among KulCha (Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal). Maybe, you might have to reduce one spinner as a forced change. There is a possibility of adding a batter and using Tilak Varma as an opener and bowler,” Wasim Jaffer said.
Both Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav were the standout bowlers for the Indian team in the 1st T20 game against the West Indies as they bowled exceedingly well in Trinidad and Tobago to pick up crucial wickets for the team in the middle overs and it will be interesting to see whether India drop one of the spinners for the 2nd T20 on Sunday.
Indian Team Need To Be Way And Play Good Cricket To Win The Match – Wasim Jaffer
Wasim Jaffer believes that West Indies will be wary of the conditions in Guyana as they play CPL in the country and reckons that their bowlers can use the conditions very well and wants the Indian team to be wary of the West Indies’ explosive batters, who can take the game away from them.
“I think West Indies know the conditions well because they play CPL. Their bowlers use the conditions very well. They have many explosive batters – Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Kyle Mayers, Rovman Powell. Indian team need to be wary and play good cricket to win the match,” Wasim Jaffer added.
West Indies batters were aggressive in their approach in the 1st T20 before losing their way in the middle overs and they will look to continue their fine form going into the 2nd T20I in Guyana on Sunday.