As India maintains a dominant 2-0 lead in the three-match T20I series against Ireland, former Indian offspinner and selector, Sarandeep Singh, suggests that it’s a prudent move for the visiting team to experiment with their lineup for the final match at the Malahide Cricket Club in Dublin.
Singh recommends introducing uncapped wicketkeeper-batsman Jitesh Sharma and young pacer Avesh Khan in the third T20I against Ireland, leveraging the liberty to make changes after a victory.
“I strongly believe this should happen, especially after a win when you have the flexibility to shuffle the team. I’m particularly interested in seeing Avesh Khan in action. He’s a talented fast bowler, consistently performing well in domestic cricket and the IPL,” Singh expressed in an interview with Jio Cinema.
“Although he missed out on an opportunity during the West Indies series due to the back-and-forth nature of the matches, we should definitely give him a chance here. Additionally, Jitesh Sharma should be given an opportunity,” he added.
However, another expert from JioCinema, Abhishek Nayar, takes an opposing view, advocating for the winning combination to remain unchanged.
“I would prefer no alterations. Considering the brevity of this T20I tour, maintaining the players who have been given a chance is crucial,” Nayar emphasized.
Emerging young batsman Tilak Varma, who has been selected for the Asia Cup, faced two unsuccessful outings against Ireland, managing just one run across two innings. Despite this, Nayar believes that Varma’s approach doesn’t require drastic changes.
“In my view, Tilak Varma was slightly unlucky in the first T20I when he was dismissed down the leg side. Most batsmen would have aimed for a boundary on that type of delivery. In the second T20I, he successfully executed his signature shot, which had earned him a six during his West Indies debut,” Nayar commented.
“Varma seems to have faced some misfortune. He should adhere to his game plan and continue with his current approach. His resilience was evident in the IPL; every time he encountered a challenging situation, he responded more assertively,” Nayar affirmed.
On the contrary, Singh advised Varma to adapt his strategy to the conditions: “Tilak Varma should focus on one fundamental aspect: analyze the pitch behavior first. The venue of his debut in the West Indies had similar conditions to India, and the pitch’s behavior was akin to those in India. Therefore, he could play his shots with a certain strategy.”
“However, now that he’s in Ireland, the conditions are disparate. The pitch is firmer, has grass covering, moisture, and overcast weather. The ball exhibits movement and offers more bounce. Consequently, he should take some time to adjust, face around 15-16 balls, and then commence playing his attacking shots,” Singh advised for Varma’s approach.
-IANS
