Former England all-rounder Moeen Ali has delivered a sharp assessment of India’s batting order after the third T20I against England, saying the visitors created problems for themselves in a crushing 125-run defeat at Trent Bridge. England’s big win exposed India’s batting frailties once again, with the Men in Blue collapsing to 76 all out while chasing 202.
Moeen believes India’s biggest issue was the structure of the batting lineup, particularly the placements of Axar Patel, Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube. In his view, Axar coming in at No. 5 and Tilak at No. 6 disrupted India’s balance, while Dube being pushed down to No. 8 effectively hid a player who is supposed to provide impact in the middle overs and late stages. Speaking on the Beard Before Wicket podcast, Moeen said the batting order lacked clarity and did not allow the lower middle order to play to its strengths.
“India’s big problem is Axar Patel coming in so high. Tilak for me is coming in too low. Shivam, you are just hiding until you get to a point where you can just go after the spinners. He’s in the team to do everything,” Moeen Ali said.
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India’s openers also took an aggressive approach and both departed early, but Moeen refused to blame them for the defeat. He said the intent shown by Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was the right way to play modern T20 cricket, even if it carried risk. In his eyes, the problem was not the top order’s attacking mindset but the inability of the batters who followed to adapt when the situation changed.
“I don’t blame the Indian openers. I actually love the way they play and I think that’s the right way to go, to have two of those. You know if Abhishek bats six overs, he’s probably going to close to 50, if not past 50. We know Suryavanshi could probably get even more. So you don’t mind that. That’s their threat. But it’s the guys who come after that have to be able to adapt,” he explained.
Abhishek Sharma scored 10 off seven balls with a six, while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi struck 13 off five deliveries, including two sixes, before England’s bowlers tightened the screws. Moeen said Sooryavanshi’s current dismissal pattern is not a concern, because the teenager is getting out while trying to play his natural game rather than struggling against the pace of international cricket.
His bigger worry, he said, lies with the batters further down the order. According to Moeen, if Sooryavanshi goes through a brief lean patch, it will be part of the learning curve, not yet a technical flaw or a weakness. He remains impressed by the teenager’s raw ability and fearless intent.
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“His only issue is going to be, if he doesn’t score for the next two, three, or five games, then that becomes an issue. I still think he is so good. The way he is going out now, for me, that is not a weakness. I’ve seen him hit those balls for six. I’m not worried about him. It’s the rest of the guys coming down the order,” Moeen Ali said.
England spinner Adil Rashid also weighed in on the youngster, saying teams are already planning for him because of the impact he has made in the IPL. Rashid felt India had given the 15-year-old the freedom to play his own game, but warned that the real test would come when he faced different conditions and a tougher phase in his career. For now, Sooryavanshi has shown flashes of talent in his first two T20Is, but he is yet to deliver a substantial innings at the international level.
