Learnings from India’s T20 World Cup warm-up win: Pant punt and Hardik’s big statement (2024)

New York,UPDATED: Jun 2, 2024 11:01 IST

Team India made the best use of their only warm-up match against Bangladesh, trying different combinations in the T20 World Cup 2024 lead-up. India comfortably outclassed Bangladesh by 60 runs on Saturday, May 1, laying down an early marker. Captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid would have been thrilled with how things went to plan on a bright morning at the Nassau County Cricket Stadium in New York.

Rohit Sharma made it clear at the toss that India would try out different combinations and India walked the talk, finding answers to quite a few questions that had been there before they arrived in the USA. The warm-up match served as a crucial encounter for India, who hadn’t played an international T20 since January due to the Indian Premier League commitments.

“I am quite happy with how things went, and got what we wanted with the game,” captain Rohit Sharma said after India posted 182 and successfully defended it, restricting Bangladesh to just 122 for 9.

If you hadn’t followed the game on Saturday and were busy with watching out Exit Polls coverage, here’s the match report.

The following are the key takeaways from India’s dominant win over Bangladesh in their only T20 World Cup warm-up match.

HARDIK PANDYA SET FOR REDEMPTION

Hardik Pandya had headed into the T20 World Cup under a lot of pressure after how things went for him during his stint as captain of Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024. Hardik faced the wrath of a section of fans for taking over MI captaincy from Rohit Sharma and MI’s insipid performances did not help his cause. He was booed by the crowd across venues during the IPL 2024 season in which MI finished with the wooden spoon.

However, vice-captain Hardik Pandya showed he is a different beast when he dons the India blue. Playing for the senior national team for the first time since his injury against Bangladesh in an ODI World Cup game last year, Hardik played brave cricket, taking the bull by its horn. The all-rounder smashed 40 not out in just 23 balls while acing the finisher’s role.

Hardik walked into bat when India were 130 for 3 in the 15th over and needing a late push. Hardik provided exactly that for Rohit Sharma’s team. On the drop-in pitch at the Nassau County Cricket Ground that favoured the bowlers more, Hardik started on a cautious not, but hit a boundary against Shakib Al Hasan in the 16th over. He switched gears in the very next over bowled by Tanvir Islam, hitting the spinner for three sixes in a row. The highlight of Hardik’s cameo was the six over covers that he hit against leg-spinner Rishad Hossain off the backfoot in the 19th over.

Hardik looked confident with the bat and impressed with the ball too. The vice-captain picked up a wicket and bowled according to the conditions, not giving the batters any opportunity to get under the ball and hit him.

Well, Hardik Pandya’s performance should have given the dressing room a lot of confidence. The all-rounder, it seems, is set to sing a redemption song in the coming weeks.

RISHABH PANT VS SANJU SAMSON: ONLY ONE WINNER

India opened the batting with Rohit Sharma and Sanju Samson and had Rishabh Pant coming at No. 3. While Samson failed to make the most of the opportunity by getting out for 1 off 6 deliveries, Pant showed glimpses of his vintage self. It looked like India wanted to have a straight shoot-out between Pant and Samson and there was only one winner on Saturday.

Rishabh Pant was enjoying himself in the middle by trying out his wide array of shots. He tore into left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan, hitting the veteran for three successive sixes in the final over of the powerplay, helping India go past 50 in the first six overs.

Pant played some audacious shots, hitting medium pacers behind the square for fun. The left-hander was retired hurt when he was batting on 53.

Pant is likely to be the first choice wicketkeeper-batter for India when they take on Ireland in New York on June 5. Samson might have to wait for his chances.

It will be interesting to see if Pant will get to bat at No 3 for India in the tournament as well. It makes sense to have Pant at No. 3 if India are indeed planning to open with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as the wicketkeeper-batter gives a left-handed option in the top-order.

“We just wanted to give him an opportunity. We haven't nailed the batting line-up yet, we wanted most guys to get a hit in the middle,” captain Rohit said, when he was asked about Pant batting at No. 3.

Well, Rohit Sharma seems to be in the mood to give the combination out before India step on the field on June 5.

ROHIT SHARMA-VIRAT KOHLI TO OPEN?

It’s now heading towards that way, isn’t it? Young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was the only top-order star in the 15 that did not get to bat in the warm-up match. Virat Kohli did not play Saturday’s warm-up match as he was rested, a day after he landed in New York. Despite Kohli’s absence, India did not open with Rohit-Yashavi, hinting that the left-handed opener might have to warm the benches at the start of the tournament.

Virat Kohli had a golden run in the IPL, scoring 741 runs and winning the Orange Cap for the second time in his career. Kohli thrived as an opener for FCB and showcased that he was more than capable of going big from the word go. There were innings when Kohli struggled after the powerplay and India would be keen on using Kohli at the right time -- the powerplay.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli opening makes sense for India as it also opens up room for flexibility in their batting line-up.

RIGHT-LEFT, RIGHT-LEFT, RIGHT-LEFT?

India have always been troubled by the lack of left-handed options at the top of the order. At the ODI World Cup last year, India’s top 6 batters were all right-handed. However, India can have a good mix of right-handers and left-handers at the top.

In their warm-up match, India had a left-right combination throughout their innings as Rishabh Pant played at No.3, Shivam Dube at No. 5 and Ravindra Jadeja at No. 7.

India can also use Axar Patel as a floater if needed.

What do you think about this line-up?

Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja/Axar Patel.

Well, Suryakumar Yadav, the World No. 1 T20I batter, batting at No. 4 is not ideal as he would not get the bulk of the overs to work his magic. However, Pant showed on Saturday that he is in great form and is hungry to tonk a few into the stands.

WHAT ABOUT THE BOWLING?

Well, Arshdeep Singh dismissed doubts over his form with a fantastic spell with the new ball while Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Hardik Pandya did their job to perfecton.

While Yuzvendra Chahal did not get to bowl in the warm-up game, India gave 2 overs each to the rest of their spinners - Jadeja, Axar and Kuldeep Yadav. India are likely to start with Jadeja and Kuldeep with Axar being the extra spin-bowling option if the conditions permit.

Notably, India gave Shivam Dube 3 overs and the gentle medium-pacer picked two wickets in the end, dismissing the lower-order batters. Dube getting to bat at No. 5 and bowl 3 overs is a clear sign that India might not be averse to playing both him and Hardik in the XI.

Options galore for India and the warm-up match would have given the dressing room a clearer picture.

Let’s wait for June 5 to see if India will take the bold route in terms of their combination.

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