ASIA CUP 2023: PROS AND CONS
As Asia Cup comes to conclusion with a rather tame surrender by the Lankan Tigers, here is me telling why this triumph is special for India, and the final touches needed to be done, especially with the World Cup just 3 weeks away.
MIXED BAG OF PERFORMANCES:
The biggest challenge of this tournament for India was facing Pakistan’s quicks and the potent spin attacks of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Reflecting back, I would definitely say that this Indian attack has played pace better than spin, barring the first ODI against Pakistan, where the pace trio breathed fire on a seaming day. In the same match, the left-right duo of Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya treated the spinners to cleaners, and that was the only side against whom they played spin really well.
But, when the opponents were Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, the Indian batters really struggled against quality spin, and since 2022, their struggle on turning wickets continue. Their inability to rotate the strike in the middle overs almost cost them against Sri Lanka, while Bangladesh used it to their advantage and churned out almost 160 dot balls in the stiff chase of 265. If India are to go the distance during the World Cup, it is one of the threats/weakness which they really need to work on.
While Axar Patel as a batter shone in this tournament, almost winning a match against Bangladesh to securing a 27 run last wicket partnership with Siraj against Sri Lanka, his credibility as a bowler is questionable though, with him taking just a solitary wicket in the 14 overs he bowled. His economy, compared to the other two spinners, was on the higher side with 5.42. This performance as a bowler, when the tracks are assisting spin, does raise a question mark, at least for me, in the build up to the World Cup, where tracks in the latter stage can assist spin.
SOME GRIPEFUL RESULTS:
Suryakumar Yadav’s ODI form still is a cause of concern in the build up. While he was given just a solitary match and it isn’t fair to judge him based on that, the build up too wasn’t that satisfactory either. Even in the game against Bangladesh, he threw his wicket away, when all he needed to was take the game deep, thus showing poor application in the 50 over format.
While Jadeja as a bowler has been consistent, taking 12 wickets in the last 2 years, him as a batter has been doubtful, scoring 174 runs at a paltry strike rate of 58. India could only hope that he finds his batting touch before the World Cup.
THE POSITIVES:
Having a potent pace attack in sub-continent conditions says a lot about the quality of this unit. It felt after a long time that this pace trio of Bumrah,Shardul, Siraj, Shami, with Pandya as the 5th seamer is in unison with the team’s objectives. While the round robin matches were just about them getting into that mode, their real test started in the Super 4, and boy they did deliver some amazing results, ending up with a scintillating 6-fer from Siraj on a cloudy day, that put Sri Lanka in shambles. Shardul, despite having an economy of around 6, always has this knack of breaking partnerships, if there was any.
Having two quality spinners is one thing; them being in full-flow is another. India, right now, has both the boxes ticked which could augur them well for the World Cup. India, at present, has 4 solid bowlers who can give 10 overs each and the 5th bowler in Hardik Pandya, who can be handy with 6–7 overs per match. They also have one spot open at 8, in which either of Shardul or Axar can fit in based on the conditions.
It has been so long that the top 4 have found their batting rhythm before the World Cup. While Rohit Sharma doesn’t have a century to show for, his 3 back to back fifties ensured India had a solid foundation. Backed up by scintillating performances from Gill, Kohli, Rahul, India has a solid top 4. I just wish this continues till the World Cup. Personally, what’s even more satisfying is the way Kishan and Pandya paced their innings against Pakistan, especially when the team is at 66–4. India desperately needed that middle order to click and what better way to get their eye in, against Pakistan’s pace attack.
Overall, India, with few glaring minuses, can be a pretty happy side because the end result is what matters: “CHAMPIONS”.
