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India needs to back match-winners

S. Dinakar

Bridgetown: The competition in the Caribbean is hotting up. In this paradise of freshness and freedom, sand and sunshine, cricket has assumed centre-stage.

The game's shortest format has been greeted with constant beating of the drums by men of seemingly endless energy. Calypso music, rhythmic and rocking, has added to the atmosphere.

Twenty20 cricket has its limitations and great cricketers do not necessarily succeed here. The reduction in the number of overs can prevent even exceptional players from showcasing their skills, narrows the gulf between sides.

And this popular format — the crowds here are lapping up the big hits — has been cruel to the bowlers. Those of this breed are meant to be mere fodder for batsmen protected by rules.

Powerful bats, shorter boundaries, inhuman free-hits, one bouncer per over rule, and absurdly strict wide calls have made life harder for the bowlers in a severely abbreviated format.

Innovative lot

But then, the bowlers are a tenacious, spirited and innovative lot. Several of them have found their own solutions to the Twenty20 conundrum.

Clever variations in pace and length have flummoxed several batsmen. Taking the pace off the ball is an effective ploy.

And the combination of precise short-pitched bowling and telling yorkers can dent line-ups. And spinners, crafty and courageous, have often emerged winners.

If India is to regain the World Twenty20 crown, the bowlers, against all odds, will have to deliver.

The immediate concern for India will be the two Super Eight matches in Barbados — the side heads to St. Lucia for its last match of this stage.

The chances are that senior left-arm paceman Zaheer Khan will be back in the eleven for the games at Bridgetown. The bounce in the track should suit Zaheer and there could be a measure of movement as well in a morning match if India bowls first.

Bringing in Zaheer for all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and retaining leg-spinner Piyush Chawla would be the bolder move. Chawla, like all leg-spinners, could revel on a surface with bounce. And turn and bounce can dent line-ups in any form of the game. He is turning his leg-spinners more these days — Chawla was essentially a googly bowler earlier — and this crucial development has added variety to his bowling.

Versatile

While the versatile Harbhajan Singh remains the spin spearhead — the off-spinner can choke batsmen with the new ball, strike in the middle and bowl at the death — Chawla will be an attacking option; a spinner who hustles the batsmen.

The fizz in his bowling is undeniable; the revolution on the ball enables it to hasten off the surface. With Chawla mixing his leg-spinners with the wrong 'un, the batsman can so easily be tempted to attempt a cut and find the ball spinning back onto the stumps. Or he could be drawn out by Chawla's flight and then be sold the dummy as the ball spins away.

Chawla employs the flipper for the much-needed change in length. Contrary to most formats where a good length is mandatory for a spinner, he has to vary the same in Twenty20 cricket to prevent batsmen from slog-sweeping predictable length balls.

Against the southpaws, Chawla's potent googly makes him a compelling adversary. He is not someone the left-handers would be able to whip or strike with the spin.

Jadeja is a handy bat, a wonderful fielder and a useful left-arm spinner but Chawla has the attributes of a match-winner. There were indications during India's match against South Africa that Chawla might be a success in the tournament.

The chances are that Harbhajan and Chawla could, as the tournament progresses, develop into a threatening spin combination. India needs to back match-winners.

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