NEW DELHI
Former national wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel has strongly defended India’s aggressive batting strategy after the rain-affected T20I series opener against England. The highly anticipated match in Durham unfortunately ended without a result when heavy, persistent downpours completely washed out the entire second innings.
After winning the toss, the visiting Indian team elected to bat first and posted a formidable total of 189 for seven. Reflecting on the performance, Patel emphasized that the powerhouse total proved India’s genuine desire to challenge themselves and adapt to tough English conditions right away. He noted that the team intentionally avoided playing a cautious game.
Patel firmly stated that 190 was a highly competitive target on the tricky Durham pitch, especially with India planning to deploy three specialized spinners through the middle overs. Though the weather ultimately denied them a full game, he believes the team will carry significant confidence into the second match at Old Trafford.
The former cricketer reserved heavy praise for young opener Abhishek Sharma, who smashed a brilliant 59 off just 24 deliveries. Patel highlighted how quickly the dynamic left-hander read the slightly spongy bounce of the surface to launch a spectacular counter-attack against England’s bowling unit. In particular, Patel credited Sharma for taking absolute control of the powerplay by hitting fast bowler Saqib Mahmood for consecutive boundaries. He concluded that Sharma’s continued ability to score heavily in tough overseas conditions solidified his reputation as one of the world’s absolute best T20 batsmen