Former Indian captain Anil Kumble has questioned India’s tactics ahead of the Super 8 clash against Zimbabwe in the ongoing T20 World Cup. India suffered a crushing 76-run loss against South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on Sunday.
Kumble said Hardik Pandya should be sent at his original batting position of number five, irrespective of top-order collapse. Washington Sundar and Shivam Dube batted ahead of Pandya against the Proteas as the latter was pushed down to number seven. Pandya could only score 18 runs off 17 balls as India was bowled out for 111 in the run chase of 188.
“India will certainly be having a close eye on the South Africa-West Indies game because if the West Indies do win that game, then India will not only have to beat Zimbabwe, but they will have to beat them with net run rate in mind. If South Africa beat the West Indies, then it’s a sort of a straight win and then you need to win against the West Indies. So that’s the sort of equation for India. Forget about the net run rate, I think India will have to certainly bring their A game,” the legendary India spinner said on Star Sports.
The former leg-spinner said India were not up to the mark tactically against South Africa, which led to their downfall and they should have sent Pandya when they were tottering in the run-chase.
“I felt tactically they were a bit off against South Africa. God forbid, if India gets into the same position as to how they started off against South Africa, with 20/3 or 30/3, I would like to see Hardik Pandya walk in there at that point rather than somebody else as a stopgap to take the pressure off. Hardik Pandya is capable of managing that pressure and also taking the game into a winning position,” he added.
Meanwhile, India had South Africa on the ropes at 20-3 in the Powerplay overs and Kumble said the team should have looked to go for the kill there.
“When you have the opposition 20/3, then you need to sort of look to try and go for the kill in that moment. I thought that partnership, and of course, credit to David Miller,” he said.
Kumble wants India to back vice-captain Axar Patel in the starting XI against Zimbabwe.
“Maybe against Zimbabwe, you will have to go back to Axar Patel. You will have to bring him back into the side. If Washi misses out, he misses out, and then Axar Patel comes back in,” Kumble observed.
India will next take on Zimbabwe at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, on Thursday.
