India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni remained positive and said the surprise defeat to Sri lanka in the first T20 has given them the chance to assess the team’s batting frailty ahead of the big-ticket World T20.
“The good thing is this is the type of pitch on which we have not played for a long time. There were a lot of positives. It was one day everyone got a chance to bat. At the same time there was pressure on all batsmen. Yes, the result did not go our way, but there were a lot of positives to take away from this game,” said Dhoni.
“It’s rare that in a twenty over game all wickets fall. I don’t think it’s a bad idea to test everyone. Because it will give us an idea about how deep is our batting. If the top order keeps performing from now on itself, the lower order will not get an exposure and the chance to bat and get tested before the T20 World Cup,” he said.
Put into bat on a lively track, which had fair amount of bounce and seam movement, India were skittled out for a paltry 101 in 18.5 overs with the rookie pace trio of Kasun Rajitha (3/29), Dashun Shanaka (3/16) and Chameera (2/14) doing bulk of the damage.
Dhoni said, “This is a different format. Accordingly we will have to adjust. We should not be looking into the 50-over format. In this format if someone gets 10 off 2 balls we say well played. What is important is we have to see how the wicket behaves. If you chase 140 there is no point in trying to win in 12 or 13 overs. Better to aim for 16th or 17th over. All these things will be a factor (going forward),” he added.
Dhoni said if India had made 140, it would have been a defendable total on a track that assisted seam bowlers, but at the same time praised the lankans for bowling in one area.
“If you see, close to 140 was definitely a good score and would have been slightly difficult to chase. But we can’t say whether it was the par score or not, but it was definitely not a 160-170 score wicket. There was definitely a lot for the fast bowlers, a bit of variable bounce, a bit of sponge-like bounce which made it difficult to consistently play the big shots.
“There was definitely something for the fast bowlers if you could keep hitting one area. It depended on how consistently you can keep hitting the right areas. They did not give width and they did bowl well. We also kept losing wickets that added pressure on the new batsmen coming in,” explained Dhoni.
Dhoni conceded that his batsmen were perhaps thinking that all Indian tracks would behave in the same manner, especially on the back of their run-glut in Australia in the T20 series which they won 3-0.
“A partnership was important. We tried a big shot when partnerships were building. Coming from a series where we had made lot of runs, at times it looks that whatever the wicket it is an Indian wicket. But the important thing is we have not used the last two batsmen earlier. It’s a way to look forward.”
He, however, did not criticise the track and said whatever the conditions they would accept them and play. “It’s not our fault what kind of wicket we get. We are not bothered about the types of wickets we get.”
‘Expected a turning track’
The wicket prepared for first T20 against India here reminded Senanayake of ones normally seen in Australia and he said his team was surprised that a seaming track was laid out instead of a spinning one.
“Yes, it was like Australia. We always expect a turning wicket, but it was seaming and bouncing wicket,” Senanayake said.
DDCA may host World T20 matches
New Delhi: The 10 matches for the ICC World T20 (for men and women) will be held at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground after BCCI president Shashank Manohar reportedly agreed in principle to proceed with event in Delhi.
DDCA treasurer Ravinder Manchanda said:"The tickets will be available online on 'Book My Show' in a couple of days. Myself and Chetan Chauhan has already spoken to Justice Mukul Mudgal to oversee the organization of the WT20 matches. Justice Mudgal has already intimated Shashank Manohar about the progress that we have made. We have got provisional letter from MCD."
It has been learnt that a four-member committee will be looking into the World T20 proceedings in Delhi. It includes Chauhan, Manchanda, Siddharth Verma and Salil Seth. The last two mentioned apart from the two senior office-berarers, were praised by Mudgal in his report to Delhi HC. The only glitch they now have is BCCI president CK Khanna's inclusion in 5-member committee. It has been learnt that strong objections has been raised against his inclusion but Chauhan wants to include him in the core organizing committee.