The Indian captain Virat Kohli has asked the team’s middle-order batsmen to come to the party and take the team home when there is pressure. India has heavily relied on the shoulders of the first three batsmen and whenever Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, and Virat Kohli have failed to get going, the team has generally floundered.
Consequently, Kohli wants more from his middle-order batters. The young players have failed to take the match deep and thus India has lost crucial matches. Meanwhile, India last won a big ICC trophy back in 2013 when MS Dhoni took the team to glory in the Champions Trophy and the overdependence on the first three batters has been palpable since then.
Kohli wants more from youngsters.
“We need guys who are ready till number six and seven to win you games. It can’t be dependent on two guys or three guys in the batting line-up. You know, that’s not how you win ICC tournaments,” said Kohli ahead of T20 series-opener against Sri Lanka.
Since the 2013 Champions Trophy, India has lost the final of the 2014 T20 World Cup, the final of the 2017 Champions Trophy, the semifinal of the 2016 T20 World Cup and the semifinal of the 2015 and 2019 World Cup. Thus, the Men in Blue have had issues in crossing the last hurdle.
“So that’s our main focus to reveal situations to guys and expect them to come into their own and become those fearless match-winners that we should have going into a big tournament.”
Kohli believes the upcoming series will be exciting as it would be interesting to note who would step up in crunch situations. The young players are been given the opportunity and they would like to grab it with both hands.
“These next few series is going to be very exciting to see who stands up in pressure situations, how they react when may be Rohit or me or KL or Shikhar at the top have not fired.”
India will need a collective team effort if they are to go all the way in the big competition. The first T20I between India and Sri Lanka will take place at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on 5th January.