Ahmedabad: India will have to quickly plug their batting shortcomings and pick the right team composition when they go into the second and last Twenty20 cricket international against arch rivals Pakistan here on Friday, hoping to level the two match series 1-1.
India suffered a five-wicket drubbing in the series opener in Bangalore after a middle-order collapse, which saw the hosts struggle to 130 for nine after being 90 for two at one stage.
The hosts desperately need to win the second game to level the series and the pressure will be on captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his men to deliver the goods when it matters the most.
Apart from Gautam Gambhir (43) and Ajinkya Rahane (42), all the other batsmen failed to apply themselves when confronted against a strong bowling attack spearheaded by the experienced Pakistan pacer Umar Gul.
In fact, all-rounder Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina were the only ones other than the openers to have reached the double figures.
India would need the likes of Virat Kohli, Dhoni, Yuvraj and Rohit Sharma to regroup and fire in unison against the traditional rivals who are also equally determined to clinch the T20 series.
The bowling also remains a persistent headache for the Indians. Except for Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who finished with impressive figures of three for nine in his debut game, none of the other bowlers could trouble the Pakistani batsmen.
Ashok Dinda, Ishant Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja all struggled to get wickets or even check the flow of runs.
The decision to leave out Ravichandran Ashwin in the last match was seen as a move that worked in Pakistan’s favour and Dhoni might be tempted to play him in the must-win tie.
The Indians had opted to go in with three specialist seamers in the last match and it will be interesting to see whether they go in with the same strategy or include a spinner.
Bhuvneshwar was a bit “nervous” but certainly not overawed ahead of his dream debut against arch rivals Pakistan where he had stunning figures of 3/9 in four overs.
“Any Indian cricketer playing against Pakistan is excited. Like any other debutant, I was a bit nervous but there was no pressure to perform,” said the young UP lad who has suddenly caught the imagination of the cricket crazy Indian fans.
Kumar had reduced Pakistan to 12 for three taking all the wickets in his first two overs when the vistors started the chase.
The all-rounder said his seniors told him to treat it as any “normal match.”
“I played it like a normal match.
“The seniors came to me and told me play this like a normal match,” he said.
The wicket at Motera will be completely different from the one in Bangalore which aided seamers.
“The conditions here is different.
“The one in Bangalore was seaming and over here, it will be slow and offer turn. The attempt will be to execute the plan and give our best shot,” the feisty pacer added. (PTI)