Intro
Assistant coach admits team yet to play perfect game
Ahmedabad
India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has flagged top-order predictability and struggles against finger spin as key concerns ahead of the Super 8 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, even as he maintained that the title contenders are yet to produce a complete performance.
Despite finishing the league stage with momentum, India’s left-handed top three — Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma — has allowed opponents to plan more effectively, particularly through the use of off-spinners in the powerplay. Netherlands off-spinner Aryan Dutt exploited that tactic in Ahmedabad, dismissing Sharma and Kishan inside the first six overs.
Doeschate clarified that the issue is not limited to off-spin but extends to finger spin in general, especially on surfaces where the ball grips. India were earlier tested by Pakistan’s spin trio in Colombo, where 14 overs of finger spin yielded telling returns.
With Super 8 clashes lined up against South Africa national cricket team, Zimbabwe national cricket team and West Indies cricket team, the challenge is expected to intensify. “We need clear plans when wickets hold and boundaries are bigger,” Doeschate said, adding that better surfaces could ease stroke-making but adaptability remains crucial.
On Sharma’s lean run — three ducks in the tournament — the assistant coach remained unconcerned, citing strong net sessions after the batter recovered from illness. “Absolutely no worries about him. He’ll be fine for the second phase,” he asserted.
India open their Super 8 campaign against South Africa here on Sunday, aiming to iron out tactical flaws before the knockout push.