World Cup 2023: Winning the toss and batting first – Adam Gilchrist on how teams can beat India

Former Australian wicket-keeper bat Adam Gilchrist has revealed that teams should bat first against India if they have to beat the formidable side. India has been the only unbeaten team in the ongoing World Cup 2023 and they have won all of their eight matches.

Gilchrist reckons India’s fast bowling has been unplayable under lights and they have done a lot of damage. Thus, teams can negate that while batting first even if India has got the best chaser of all time in their team – Virat Kohli.

India’s bowling unit has been right on the money in the ongoing ODI showpiece and they have kept the opposition at bay with their accuracy.

In the ongoing ODI showpiece, Shami has scalped 16 wickets in four matches at an impressive average of seven and has an economy rate of 4.31. He is India’s leading wicket-taker in the tournament despite playing only four matches. Furthermore, Jasprit Bumrah has bagged 15 wickets at an impressive average of 15.53 in eight matches of the tournament.

Moreover, Mohammed Siraj has picked 10 wickets in eight games. Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja have snared 12 and 14 wickets respectively in the ongoing ODI showpiece.

Speaking to Fox Cricket, Adam Gilchrist said, “I think firstly winning the toss and batting first, given how India have gone about their business. I don’t suggest that they have a weakness in chasing. They have the greatest-ever run-chase co-ordinator in Virat Kohli.

“But the damage that the Indian bowling attack has been doing under lights, they have been lethal. Siraj, Shami, and Bumrah have been almost unplayable. It might be more conducive to bat against them in daylight.”

Gilchrist further added “India identified that they were a bit top-heavy with the spin talent, especially with the conditions over there. But if they wanted to be competitive overseas, they needed to develop a fast bowling program. The MRF pace academy with Dennis Lilee and now Glenn McGrath certainly helped.”

Gilchrist, who was well known to play the game in the right spirit, continued to shower praise on India’s bowling line-up, which has picked 76 wickets in the eight matches.

“India have a well-balanced bowling lineup as the fast bowling talent is beautifully married with a couple of varieties of spin. Jadeja’s stats are amazing. Kuldeep Yadav is a variation that can often bamboozle any opposition.

“And then you have Ravi Ashwin sitting in the background hardly getting a go. They have always had a powerful batting line-up. But it’s the potency of the bowling that’s making them such a threat at the moment.”

India will next take on the Netherlands at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on Sunday.