India’s date with the Cup: It all depends on how well team manages ‘pressure’ & ‘expectations’

March 8 could well turn out to be a significant date in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup history if India lift the Cup. The hosts will become the first nation to win back-to-back titles and all indications, thus far, point towards such a grand happening.

The defending champions start the tournament with the favourites tag, one which hasn’t come easily. Over the last two years, since they won the tournament in 2024, the Indians have vigorously built a squad which is, in fact, an embarrassment of riches. Those who could not make it to the final 15-member squad for this edition of the World Cup, would be able to walk into any team with their eyes closed.

The likes of Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jitesh Sharma etc would be welcomed with open arms in any other team. Such is the riches at the disposal of the selectors when it comes to T20 cricket that they can pick and choose a squad without affecting the overall performance of the team.

Man to man, India are on top

The Indian Premier League (IPL), which was ridiculed at one point of time, has transformed the landscape and India are now the ‘Masters of all that they survey’ in the shortest form of the game. Every year, the IPL throws up a couple of youngsters who are out to make a name for themselves at the international level.

“I think the defending champions start as clear favourites. Man to man, current form, match fitness, the amount of cricket they have played in recent times, makes them clear favourites. And especially when you look at that top order and the kind of form they’re in,” former World Cupper Ravi Shastri said recently.

India, with a stunning 48-8 win-loss record (excluding super-over results, where India are 3-0) in T20Is since October 2023, have the best credentials to defend their title. Among the top teams, Australia are next, but their win-loss ratio of 2.153 (28 wins, 13 defeats) is about a third of India’s, which illustrates how dominant India have been in the format recently.

India’s explosive batting is key

Much of India’s recent T20I success has been the result of their explosive batting: their run rate of 9.69 is the best among all teams, while their 20 totals of 200 or more in 62 matches is also the best by a distance: West Indies are next with 13 in 61, while New Zealand have 10 in 51.

A comparison of batting stats for all teams, based on the T20 numbers of squad members since October 2023, indicates why bowlers would dislike to bowl to the Indians. In all T20s they’ve played since October 2023, the Indians, who are part of the World Cup squad, have struck 1081 sixes, at a rate of 10.99 balls per six.

Abhishek Sharma leads the list of six-hitters both in terms of the number of sixes and the rate of hitting them. Pic: BCCI

That’s easily the best among the squads of all the top teams playing in this tournament: in second place is Australia, almost a ball behind at 11.91. India’s balls per boundary (four or six) and strike rate are the best too.

A line-up that includes Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, despite his recent slump, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh is a worrisome prospect for the rival captain and bowlers. And added to it is the fact that most of the pitches and conditions in the sub-continent favour the batters.

Among the individual batters, opener Abhishek dominates, leading the list of six-hitters both in terms of the number of sixes and the rate of hitting them. The southpaw has struck 249 sixes in all T20s since October 2023, the most in this period among all batters playing in this World Cup, while the frequency of those hits, 6.78 balls per six, is also the best among those with at least 30 T20 sixes in this period. He is also the only one in this list striking at over 200. Apart from Abhishek, there are three other Indians with a sub-11-ball rate of hitting sixes: Ishan Kishan (101 sixes, 9.64 balls per six), Hardik Pandya (89, 10.47) and Shivam Dube (111, 10.67).

Tilak Verma

Tilak is vital cog in the campaign

While the hitting prowess of the Indian batters makes the team formidable, a player like Tilak Varma is going to be a vital cog in their campaign. The Hyderabadi, apart from having a range of shots, also has a cool head and knows how to adapt to the given situation. This will be a crucial factor if the top order finds itself in trouble on any given day. “Tilak Varma’s fitness and form will be crucial because he is a terrific player. And again, being a left-hander, the top of the order will make a difference,” Shastri had said.

Sanju Samson vs Ishan Kishan

The only concern for the team management is whom to choose between Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan. Lately, Ishan has surged ahead of Sanju in terms of batting. The left-handed bat has also struck a century in the T20I series against New Zealand, while Sanju has struggled. But having a left-right combination at the top would be an ideal one. Also, in terms of keeping, Sanju is far ahead but it will be a tough decision for skipper Suryakumar and coach Gautam Gambhir.

“The final call on Ishan Kishan versus Sanju Samson for the opener role will be revealed on February 7,” Suryakumar had said after the final game against New Zealand in Thiruvananthapuram.

Ishan Kishan scored a century in the fifth and final T20I against New Zealand in Thiruvananthapuram recently. Pic: BCCI

The wickets on the sub-continent are most favourable for spinners and Indian are well-loaded in this department too. “I think spin will play an integral part. And India has got enough ammunition in that spin department. There’s Varun Chakaravarthy, there’s Axar Patel, there’s Kuldeep Yadav. When you look at variety, players at the right positions and balance,” former India team coach Shastri said.

Pressure may make or mar fortunes

Only one thing could stand between India and the cup and that is ‘pressure’. How well Team India manages expectations and pressure will decide their fate in the tournament.  “When you’re defending your title and when you’re playing at home, there is pressure and it comes from nowhere,” Shastri had said.

“You have a bad 15 minutes, a bad 10 minutes in a T20 game, it can decide the outcome of the game. And often, you lose those 10 minutes or 15 minutes because of pressure. So, it’s how India handles that pressure, the way they start the tournament. If they start well, even if there is a hiccup on the way, they have got depth in batting to pull them out of it,” he added.

Pressure, bring it on, says India skipper Suryakumar Yadav as the team gears up to defends its title

Suryakumar, however, is agog about this thing called pressure. In fact, he feels that there is no spice to life and sport without pressure. “Home games always bring pressure, but without it, there’s no thrill in the sport. Chasing a historic back-to-back World Cup win on home soil, no team has done it before, feels like a rewarding responsibility and positive pressure. With massive crowd support across venues, I’m excited, and the team shares that enthusiasm,” the cheeky Yadav had remarked.

India’s T20 World Cup squad: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Axar Patel (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy.