With the T20 World Cup shifting its focus to the Caribbean islands for the Super Eight stage, India will be looking to capitalize on pitches more suited to their spin attack. The New York leg, co-hosted with the Caribbean, presented a different challenge – tricky surfaces favouring fast bowlers with unpredictable bounce and pace variations.
Despite the challenges, India emerged victorious in all three of their New York matches, defeating Ireland, Pakistan, and USA. This dominant performance on unfamiliar pitches has instilled confidence in former Indian spinner Piyush Chawla, who believes India has a strong chance moving forward.
“The pitch in New York was very dicey,” Piyush Chawla stated during a media interaction. “The way India performed on that pitch and won three out of three games, so there are very good chances going forward.”
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He elaborated on the role of spinners, who were less prominent on the New York pitches. “The spinners were not needed as much in New York, but once you enter the second leg for the Super Eight, the spinners have had a big role in the West Indies. Our spinners will come into play now.”
India boasts two specialist spinners in Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, alongside all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, who can also contribute with their spin. Chawla predicts Kuldeep will be the preferred choice.
“To be very honest only one will play, and I think Kuldeep will be the first preference because of what he has done in the last one and a half years,” he explained. “You have Axar and Jadeja who can give you the batting depth so I feel Kuldeep will get the nod.”
Piyush Chawla commended India’s overall performance in New York, particularly their successful defence of a modest 120-run total against Pakistan.
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“It was tricky, no doubt, but good teams have done well,” he acknowledged. “Like India defended 120 runs against Pakistan. When they had made just 119 I do not think many people would have given them the chance, but the way the Indian bowling unit bowled, especially Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik, that was really a treat to watch.”
With the pitches shifting to spin-friendly territory in the Caribbean, India’s spin attack has the potential to become a game-changer. Chawla’s confidence reflects the optimism surrounding the Indian team’s chances of lifting the coveted T20 World Cup trophy.
