Takeaways from the Asia Cup

[rollingstoned]

So the tournament ended in disappointment after the team couldn't make the final which many people feared would happen when the squad for the tournament was announced which seemed to have been selected without due care. The t20 world cup is only a month away so without sweeping changes in the tm one should not expect any cavalier changes to the squad and team approach even if the conditions will be different. 

 

--> With Kohli returning to form this tournament might indicate that the approach for us might still be one that is top heavy and centred around someone batting through the innings, considering that some of the other batters we have who are rather 'low percentage' as far as approach goes even if spectacular when it comes off should not be relied on to guide the team to optimal totals if they all get out taking risks. We saw it in the games against both SL and Pakistan where our bowlers had to finish the innings and the set batsman had to farm strike which is never ideal. Does this mean we should revisit the template we wish to play looking at others who are differently endowed as far as resources are concerned? something to think about. So too for how and whom we fit in in that LO considering that DK barely got a chance in the tournament so we won't know what we will get when the WT20 starts which i think now he is most probably going to feature in since Hooda won't bowl, if at all making him the obvious candidate to play that finisher role ahead of the ARs.

--> Even considering how different the conditions will be in Australia and that we are missing our main spearhead here, our fast bowling resources and how we attack with them is food for thought which many predicted before the tournament began when the overriding consensus was we had not picked enough pacers - quick or otherwise - for the tournament, making it seem like it was just some experiment that the tm was dabbling in which by the last match Rohit sharma admitted to. Avesh didn't enhance his reputation while Arshdeep did and while Bhuvi did well in spurts you want a little more from the leader of your attack in decisive moments. Pandya had 1 good game but should have taken the feedback after the first game when the short balls were sitting up and not rising to meet the batsman at an awkward height which goes for everyone in the team actually as they didn't bowl enough cutters and slower balls on surfaces that were conducive to them. Of some disappointment was the fact that a few younger and more promising pacers were not picked but i consider it a step in the right direction that the tm has at least shown clarity in declaring some players won't be considered for the format due to being unsuitable eg Shami, Prasidh, Siraj and persisting with those whom they think might have something 

--> Spin stocks are a little concerning and was where we lost the 2nd match against Pakistan imo. Ashwin's selection beggars belief as did Bishnoi being dropped for the match against SL after doing well against Pakistan. I'm not sure what they way fwd is as I dont think we have many outstanding leggies who are obvious next cabs off the rank to get into the team and Jadeja's importance came to be highlighted even more by the time the tournament came to an end imo not least for how much more worse we become on the field without him. Axar was the obvious like for like choice to replace him but the tm persisted with Chahal which means that they still see him in their plans for the foreseeable future much to our chagrin. 

--> Our fielding and the complete lack of athleticism from some along with poor catching is a matter of concern. I don't remember us being this bad since the 90s and we were by some distance the worst in the tournament which had an amateur HK side too.

Anything else anyone else has observed or spotted can be mentioned here.

Edited September 9, 2022 by rollingstoned

[Norman]

Rohit and Kohli's return to form. 

 

Arshdeep's death bowling skills. 

 

Nothing else

[Ankit_sharma03]

that we shud stop playing in UAE 

[prudent_kreeda]

- Poor Fielding & Poor running except VK.

- Poor death bowling 2 times out 2  at critical phase by senior most  "allegedly  one of the best  indian death bowler " . Very scary indeed . This fellow will be perma candidate even in WC T20.

- Poor Spin bowling pool - skillset wise required for short format.

- Chahal performance  , Chahar too below avarage.

- Most of the MO newcomers are boom or bust .

- Disappointing to see Pant SR in T20. 

 . 

[TheWall]

A dozen Vada pav for the captain who is completely tired...

[Ankit_sharma03]

 

[Stan AF]

India still has a long way to go in international T20Is.

 

 

[Frustrated]

Never lose to poyz.   For each loss, their fanboys will create 3 troll threads on ICF each day till they lose the next match.   

[The Realist]

The T20 team is an absolute mess - from opening to the middle order to death over batting, bowling toothless when opening and closing innings. Plus fielding is shambolic.

 

Apart from that all good.

[coffee_rules]

Stop giving orange caps or purple caps or whatever to discourage stat-padders 

[Sean Bradley]

Well, Honestly, In all fairness, I am not too worried about this Asia Cup. We were extremely unlucky with he toss, we lost key moments. 

 

We lost matches that could have easily gone in our favour. If not for Asif Alis Drop Catch, and a run out missed by Rishabh Pant against SL, we cld have been playing the finals.

 

Looks like this Asia Cup has SL written all over it. And rightly so, after what they hace gone through. 

 

On Topic, Virats return to form, Arshdeep's bowling is the only plus for us. Don't see anything else apart from this.

[singhvivek141]

1. Bhuvi is not an all phase bowler.

2. Batting can't end at no 7 if you're planning for aggressive fearless cricket. 

3. Left Right combination while batting is a big help.

4. It's not easy to make everyone a finisher, lower middle order batters need to be groomed.

5. Pant shouldn't be a sure starter in T20 if he is batting in MO...we have other options in T20. 

6. You can't survive with one skill unless you're extremely good at it. For ex...Chahal is useless as a fielder and as a batter. His bowling itself isn't guarantee to pull him through.

7. Wicket taking ability at the start matters a lot, 4-30-2 have more impact if you get your 2 wickets early rather than getting those 2 wickets at the end.

[Khota]

Time to reconsider Dhawan and Gill.

Rahul's position not assured.

Ashwin is better than other spinners.

Sky has a way to go.

Pandya is crap.

[putrevus]

Biggest take away is MO is crap and overrated. It again showed why Indian batting still is dependent on Kohli and Rohit even after 15 years. If they cannot finish innings or matches chances of losing increases multifold.

 

Pandya has shown why he still WIP.He is still ways to go from becoming world class.His bowling has to improve a lot for him to become a winning player.He simply does not have ability to launch from ball one, he needs some time but he is playing as a finisher.

 

Bhuvi is not must in playing eleven. They need extra pace in fast bowlers. Bhuvi should be rest for next few matches and let other young fast bowlers with pace getting the shot.

 

Arshdeep is not a long term prospect. SKY has to show up in crunch matches , I will give him benefit of doubt.

 

Indian team still is very unbalanced.

 

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Not too worried. Both games we lost were close games. However, there is one fundamental problem which Indian cricket seems unable to reconcile with which the likes of England, Pakistan and now even SL have done admirably. 

 

Not sure when we will ever get there but as long as we don't embrace a data-driven approach fully, we will keep underperforming.  It's ironic that the richest cricket board is so conservative in their thinking  

[rollingstoned]

Another point I want to make is i saw a rare instance.of Kohli using the sweep yday. This is a shot that not enough Indian batsmen play in general imo barring a few (Sky, Pant, dk) and when you consider that many spinners don't bowl in a way that lets you come down the track that easily along with the fact that many in the current team are not as good at using their feet/playing spin as our earlier gen batsmen, any variant of it ( reverse, slog, paddle) becomes an important shot to unsettle the bowler. I have observed this in the longer formats too. 

[bowl_out]

Anyone else think the Asia cup ended the same way as WC2007 for us?

 

In the Super 4,

We lost to a desi team (Bangladesh in 2007 and Pakistan in Asia cup)

We absolutely hammered an associate team (Namibia in 2007 and Afg now)

We lost a must win game to Sri Lanka

 

After the early loss, we went on the win the T20WC hosted by a Commonwealth country (SA in 2007 and Aus now) under a new captain considered to bring good luck (Dhoni then vs Rohit now).

 

Wow, I'm chuckling at my optimism 

 

Who will play Yuvraj's role? Kohli?

 

 

 

[putrevus]

^^ Rohit was the captain in Asia cup.

[coffee_rules]

For the team, bathsoaps, shampoos, pens, lotions from the hotel rooms.

Edited September 9, 2022 by coffee_rules

[raki05]

Jholadharis got exposed.