India finished at the top of Group A in the T20 World Cup 2024 and progressed to the Super 8 stage of the tournament. The Indian bowling contingent performed admirably across the three matches they played. There has been some critique aimed at India's handling of Ravindra Jadeja, who has bowled only three overs in the tournament so far. Instead, Rohit Sharma has opted more for Axar Patel, who has delivered commendable performances.
Discussing Rohit Sharma's strategic management of bowlers in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar praised the captain's decisions. Bangar, speaking on Star Sports, highlighted Sharma's adept use of resources and specifically mentioned Axar Patel's deployment on the challenging pitches in New York.
"The team management deserves credit for employing the right players for specific conditions. The preference for Axar Patel over Jadeja on surfaces with extra bounce is understandable. Axar's height advantage allows him to generate higher bounce, making him more effective on such pitches. Rohit Sharma's captaincy deserves praise because he prioritized effectiveness over reputation when choosing his bowlers," Bangar commented on Star Sports before India's initial Super 8 match against Afghanistan.
Regarding the exclusion of Kuldeep Yadav from the playing XI, Bangar explained that India relied on insights gained from observing the West Indies team's strategies. He argued that opting for finger spinners was deemed most advantageous on the slow and low pitches typical in the West Indies.
"In these conditions, India's approach has been spot on. Finger spinners are expected to excel here. Considering the familiarity of the West Indies team with these conditions, employing spinners like Akeal Hossein and Gudakesh Motie appears to be a sound strategy," Bangar concluded.
India's campaign in the Super 8 stage commences on 20th June against Afghanistan in Barbados, followed by matches against Australia and Bangladesh.
