Dinesh Karthik still remembers his conversation with Rohit Sharma after the humiliating loss to England in the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Adelaide.
The Team India captain had stressed on the need to show intent at the top even if it came at the cost of a few wickets. Not just zooming in on the batters’ strike-rate, Rohit had also drawn up a plan for a potent attack which could marvel in all conditions.
This time Rohit had his strategy in mind in the early stages of the IPL, even before most other captains could have worked out their bowling line-up. He showed the foresight to pick four spinners when most other captains would have whinged at its mere thought.
“If we will feel it necessary to play four spinners, we will play,” said Rohit ahead of the semi-final against England.
The circumstances didn’t warrant a change in India’s game plan as three spinners led the English rout at the Providence Stadium on Thursday. There will be no let-up in their fearless and combative style against South Africa in Bridgetown on Saturday as they reignite the bid to end their ICC trophy drought for more than a decade.
It won’t be unusual for the likes of Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram or Henrich Klaasen to dwelve into the videos of Kuldeep Yadav to unravel the mystery behind his googly or the wrong ‘un. The wrist spinner’s skill to derive drift and turn from the surfaces have left most batters rattled. Without doubt Kuldeep has been the most impactful spinner and his figures justifies his progression: 10 wickets in four games in the Super Eight at an economy of 5.87.
The way Kuldeep bamboozled Harry Brook, England’s finest against spin, on Thursday must have sent the alarm bells ringing in the South Africa camp. He has looked dangerous to the point of being unplayable at times as Brook will testify.
Sensing that Brook would try the reverse sweep, he pushed one flatter and quicker which drifted away before spinning in to him. The leg-stump line allowed the ball to sneak below his bat and rattle the stumps.
The all-round bowling depth in Rohit’s team is intimidating. Kuldeep hasn’t been the only guiding light in the attack; Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Hardik Pandya have all performed in spirited shifts, not to mention Jasprit Bumrah. Ravindra Jadeja perhaps has been the only one who has performed below par.
Right through the tournament, Bumrah has continued providing the breakthroughs when all hope seemed lost. He removed India’s nemesis Travis Head with a slow off-cutter to knock off Australia’s lingering aspirations.
The fast bowler’s razor sharp accuracy and tactical astuteness — 13 wickets in seven matches at an economy of 4.12 — has often forced the batters not to take undue risks. Rohit too has used him prudently, allowing him to spark a collapse in the batting line-up.
Bumrah’s inspirational presence has allowed Arshdeep to prosper at the other end. His ability to extract swing, both conventional and reverse, has helped him emerge as India’s highest wicket-taker with 15 scalps.
Axar though has been the real revelation making rapid strides as a potential all-rounder in the limited-overs format. His bowling was the gamechanger in the Powerplay overs in the semis.
It will be all about crossing the final hurdle in what will be their best chance after near misses on two previous occasions. The bowlers will once more hold the cards in Rahul Dravid’s final game as coach.
