A solution to the David Miller puzzle is something Team India would be desperately looking for when they face South Africa in the second T20I at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Sunday.
The left-hander’s power-hitting ability was always there. But he has made his game more compact and that virtue makes him a far more dangerous middle-order batsman than before.
Opposition bowlers are finding him difficult to deal with, as was evident from Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s words. The senior India seamer, who conceded only seven runs off his first two overs, was thrashed by Miller in the closing stages of the innings in the opening match of the series.
“It is difficult bowling to him (Miller). He’s in such good form.
“Main toh chahunga South Africa unhe drop kar de, par woh aisa karenge nahi (I would want South Africa to drop him, but they won’t do so),” Bhuvneshwar said on the eve of the second T20I.
He obviously said the last bit in jest, but it does suggest that Rishabh Pant and his colleagues are yet to come up with a perfect plan to negate the Miller factor.
Yorker length
To be fair to the Indians, they didn’t do much wrong in the series opener. A batting line-up without regular skipper Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli did well enough to post 211/4 on a tricky wicket.
The bowlers, too, got it right for the most part of the Proteas’ run chase. Looking forward, they have to make a few adjustments in terms of their length to stall the Proteas power-hitters.
The likes of Bhuvneshwar and Avesh Khan may try bowling more of the fuller-length deliveries, yorkers and the wide yorkers. Besides, the Indian team management should consider letting Yuzvendra Chahal complete his quota of overs and also utilise all-rounder Hardik Pandya a little more efficiently, instead of giving him just a lone over, as was the case at the Kotla.
India will also have to see if any bowling changes have to be made.
The Proteas, however, are not complacent. “India will definitely bounce back We don’t expect anything less.
“Every single game till Bangalore (the final T20I) will be very, very tough,” said left-arm quick Wayne Parnell.
