India batting coach discusses game plans for T20n, and how and where strike rates are important in the shortest form
In England’s original record for their tour of India, both teams were to play five Tests. However, the BCCI and the ECB decided to turn out the fifth test with a five-game T20I series. It will be in preparation for the T20 World Cup, which will be held in October-November in India. All five T20Is will be played in Ahmedabad, with the first one on March 12th.
One of the men in charge of India preparation is Vikram Rathour, the team’s batting coach. This is Rathour’s second T20I series as batting coach, after India won 2-1 in Australia in December last year. Rathour spoke to ESPNcricinfo ahead of a tour of England in February about the need to find a “established team” ahead of the T20 World Cup, not to worry about Indian bat strike rates while they can adapt to conditions and positions, and what makes a good batting game plan in T20 cricket. Sections:
You’ve never played the format, how easy or difficult it was for you to coach in T20n. Do you have experience as a coach in cricket franchise and in domestic cricket, having done so in the IPL and with Himachal Pradesh and Punjab?
See, I don’t really teach them how to play cover cover or drag scene. For me, the discussions about game plans, about making decisions, about handling stress, getting the right temperance, or reading the situations are good. And for that, whether I’ve played that game or not, I don’t think it matters that much. That is my thinking.
My job with them (to help them with) is what mattresses you choose, what areas should be covered. And if they do certain things, what are their thoughts and why are they doing it – that ‘s my area of greater focus.
Five T20Is against England. What are the main questions you have written down for this series from the perspective of the batting unit?
The [T20] The World Cup is India, so I just want the batting unit to settle basically. By the time we finish this series, we should know, ‘this is the team that is going to play the World Cup’. So hopefully that happens in this series. I’m already sure there wouldn’t be too many changes anyway, because we’re a well-established unit right now. But in case someone loses shape or someone gets injured, as a batting unit you just want to settle down now.
Isn’t there a place yet, the wicket keeper, as a backup for KL Rahul, yet to get a grip?
KL has done very well as a wicketkeeper. He’s been a good broadcaster, he’s batted well, he’s kept well. Now Rishabh [Pant] (yes) back in shape and doing well, we’ll see how it goes. As soon as this situation arises, what the team leaders are looking to do, that will happen on the day of the game and how this series will go.
You said that a play plan is one thing you need to figure out. You play England, one of the best and most aggressive batting units – they bat deep and play (hard) from ball one. India’s batting approach has varied with high order including Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli. They all bat almost in a similar style – they like to bat deep, they have strike rates too. What level of debate is ongoing about the level of strike that India needs to change?
You are looking to win a game. If you’re running, strike rate doesn’t really mean anything. You’re looking to finish a game and run on a target – whether you do it in 10 pets or 20 years, you’re looking to win the game. Sticking first, at times, yeah. If the conditions are good you need to look at putting a par score on board. As for our T20 (batting) we have been doing that very consistently. So I don’t really care; I mean as long as we win games and we score par and run targets, I’m okay with whatever strike levels they go at. .
Can’t India pay to go (hard) from member one, thinking you’re drowning pretty deep?
Hmm … Yes. Someone like Rohit has a well-established game plan and has been extremely successful in following that plan. So I wouldn’t want to change that. He is someone who takes his time first, is organized first, and then gets high scores. That worked well for us. That worked well for him. So I have no reason to change that at this stage.
“I’m not too worried; I mean as long as we win games and we put in par scores and run targets, I’m okay with whatever levels strike they are going. “
Vikram Rathour
That is Rohit. But I’m talking about the middle order, where do you have Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant?
Yeah, that will depend. If they’re both playing and you get a good start, then they’re the ones who go from ball one. These are the people who are able to do that. That’s the debate we’ve been having: what the team wants at that level. If your team wants you to score an extra 12 you should be able to do that, and if your team wants you to run 6 over and win the game, you should be able to do that. also do. So you have to be able to accept both situations, and that is a good play plan.
And being able to adapt with a bating situation too?
Battery plans, again, in a T20, yes, depending on what kind of start you’ve had, how many overs are left, so that’s one format where you have to be good flexible with your batting plans or the batting order. Anyone can be on at any time in the batting unit. That’s the kind of mindset you need to have.
Nagraj Gollapudi is news editor at ESPNcricinfo