Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes that key Indian batsman Abhishek Sharma’s lack of shots on the on-side against off-spinners could be a matter of concern in the crucial encounter against West Indies. Ashwin has predicted that 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 last chance to make it into this edition of the ICC T20 World Cup. India are the defending champions, while West Indies have never lost a World Cup match at the Eden Gardens.
However, even before the game begins, the tactical implementation for the marquee game has begun, and former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, widely known for his clear strategy, has now almost handed West Indies the key to dismissing India’s two most extraordinary batsmen.
“He doesn’t have the shots there” – Ashwin’s shocking verdict on Abhishek Sharma
India have struggled against off-spin due to the overwhelming number of left-handed batsmen in the batting order. Hence they have included Sanju Samson in the eleven and he is likely to continue against West Indies as well. Despite this, Abhishek Sharma will also have to face the spinner from the other side.
Ashwin believes West Indies will plan to bring in their only off-spinner Roston Chase early in the powerplay to counter Abhishek Sharma, who he believes lacks enough shots on the leg side and hence often lacks space for the spinners.
Ravichandran Ashwin said on his YouTube channel ‘Aash Ki Baat’, “Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan are left-handed, but in different styles. Chase will have to bowl differently. Abhishek has a strike rate of only 85 against off-spin because off-spinners put pressure on his pads. He has no shot on the leg side against off-spin.”
“He hasn’t even hit him down the ground because every time he comes out, the bowlers are bowling him completely on his pads. The off-spinners are daring him to hit him down the leg side, and he doesn’t have shots there,” the veteran said.
Ravichandran Ashwin supports Ishan Kishan to play straight against spinners
However, speaking about Ishan Kishan, the other left-handed batsman and India’s most lethal in-form batsman, Ashwin said that he is of a different kind, and Chase may not have the same plan against these two left-handed batsmen who have very different approaches.
“His favorite shot is inside out over cover. He doesn’t have the sweep shot to reach the square leg boundary, and also lacks scoring options in the long-on and deep midwicket areas. If you bowl to Ishan Kishan on the legs, he doesn’t even have the shot to reach the square leg area. But what he does is drive the ball straight down and smash,” Ravichandran Ashwin added.
Unlike Abhishek, Ishan Kishan is in supreme touch and is likely to time and read the ball better. Therefore, it will be easier for him to adjust and progress, bringing the straight boundary into play more often.
Ashwin gives a big tactical update for Roston Chase
Despite weaknesses against off-spinners, Ravichandran Ashwin has warned Roston Chase that he needs to implement different strategies against the two. While Abhishek prefers the space outside the off-stump as he can easily bowl while standing, Ishan Kishan is not bothered by balls hitting the stump or pad.
“If Abhishek Sharma bowls an off-spinner outside the off-stump, he will smash it. But for Kishan, if an off-spinner bowls it outside the off-stump, he tries to smash it to long-on or the midwicket area and get it in the air. So you can’t bowl off-spin with the same plan against both of them because they are left-handed,” Ashwin said (via the above source).
Ravichandran Ashwin then gave the most invaluable advice to the West Indies spinner, asking him to bowl outside the off stump to Ishan Kishan while targeting the pads of Abhishek Sharma.
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