Former Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin highlighted that India’s batting struggles to get going when they are playing on a flat deck. India could only manage 32 runs in five overs in the one-off T20I against Japan at the Sano International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
The pitch was slow and low, and run-scoring was challenging for both teams. Furthermore, the outfield was slow because of rain. Eventually, India managed a two-run win but they were on the verge of a stunning loss against Japan, who are ranked 41st in the T20I rankings.
Shreyas Iyer top-scored for India with 16 runs off 12 balls but India lost four wickets in five overs.
“I thought India would make 50 or 60 runs. If I am following Indian cricket from anywhere, I will give this Indian team a pitch where the ball will turn or where there will be lateral movement. I think this batting lineup will be troubled if the pitch is not placid. India is so used to playing IPL on placid pitches that if other teams start preparing different pitches, it could be really challenging for the Indian batting line up. I asked all my teammates from Ireland during the ETPL what the plan against India was. They said that they did not want to give India free-flowing batting pitches,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
Ashwin said five-over matches should be considered in the future as it brings emerging nations into the contest.
“I enjoyed watching the way the ball was spinning. I enjoyed that a lot as a spinner. I loved what Japan brought to the table. Get a shorter version of the game, like five or six overs, maybe for the Olympics. If the overs are less, then these smaller teams can also fight. So, I think that is a very exciting format,” he suggested.
The former CSK spinner reckons the New Zealand curators can also make a pitch like this to add to India’s woes.
“Am I the only one watching cricket, aren’t they also watching? New Zealanders are supposed to be the smartest cricketing team. They will make a pitch like this. They will give you pitches that will trouble you. In fact, it is not far-fetched that we will encounter pitches that spin even in SENA countries,” he said.
India’s next T20I assignment is the Asian Games.
