Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes that premier Indian batter Abhishek Sharma‘s lack of shots on the on-side against off-spinners could be a concern going into the vital clash against the West Indies. Ashwin predicts Roston Chase will bowl early in the power play.
The India vs West Indies clash at the Eden Gardens is not just a game for the two teams but their final chance to make it count in this edition of the ICC T20 World Cup. India are the defending champions, while the West Indies have never lost a World Cup game at the Eden Gardens.
However, before the game begins, the tactical implementations for the marquee game have begun, and former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, widely known for his clear tactics, has now almost handed West Indies the key to dismissing two of India’s most standout batters.
“He Doesn’t Have Shots There” – Ashwin’s choking verdict on Abhishek Sharma
India have struggled against off-spin due to the overwhelming number of left-handers in the batting order. They have hence included Sanju Samson in the XI, and he is likely to continue against the West Indies as well. Despite this, Abhishek Sharma would also have to face the spinner from the other hand.
Ashwin believes the West Indies would plan to bring Roston Chase, their only off-spinner, early on in the powerplay to counter Abhishek Sharma, who he believes lacks enough shots on the leg side and hence is often cramped for room by the spinners.
“Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan are left-handers but of different kinds. Chase has to approach it differently, bowling to both. Abhishek is going at a strike rate of only 85 against off-spin because off-spinners have tended to cramp him on the pads. He has no shots on the leg side against off-spin,” said Ravichandran Ashwin on his YouTube channel, ‘Ash ki Baat.’
“He has also not hit them down the ground because every time he has stepped out, the bowlers have gone full on his pads. Off-spinners are daring him to hit on the leg side, and he doesn’t have shots there,” the legend observed.
Ravichandran Ashwin Backs Ishan Kishan to Play Straight Against Spinners
However, while speaking about Ishan Kishan, the other left-hander and India’s most lethal in-form batter, Ashwin opined that he is of a different kind, and Chase could not have the same plan against these two left-handers, who have very different approaches.
“His favourite shot is inside out over covers. He doesn’t have a sweep shot to access the square leg boundary, and also lacks scoring options in the long-on and deep midwicket regions. If you bowl on the legs to Ishan Kishan, he also doesn’t have shots to access the square leg region. But what he does is step down and smash the ball straight,” Ravichandran Ashwin continued.
Unlike Abhishek, Ishan Kishan has been in supreme touch and is likely to time and read the ball better. Hence, making adjustments and advancements would be easier for him, bringing the straight boundary into play more often.
Ashwin Drops a Massive Tactical Update for Roston Chase
Despite their weaknesses against off-spinners, Ravichandran Ashwin cautioned Roston Chase, saying that he needs to implement different strategies against the two. While Abhishek likes room outside off-stump as he can simply stand and deliver, Ishan Kishan is unbothered by balls aiming at the stumps or the pads.
“Abhishek Sharma will smash the off-spinner if he bowls outside off stump. But for Kishan, if the off-spinner bowls it outside off stump, he tries to smash it to the long on or midwicket region and skies it in the air. So you can’t just bowl off-spin with the same plan against both because they are left-handers,” said Ashwin (via the aforementioned source).
Ravichandran Ashwin then dropped the most invaluable advice for the West Indian spinner, asking him to bowl outside off-stump for Ishan Kishan while aiming the pads for Abhishek Sharma.
