India is on the brink of a rare T20I series loss and Hardik Pandya and Rahul Dravid will have to take 3 big decisions should India wish to keep their ongoing run in the bilateral series intact. India currently trails 2-0 in a 5-match T20I series against West Indies and can face their first series loss against West Indies in 6 years.
India was handed two back-to-back defeats by the hosts and is fighting to stay alive in the tournament. But for that to happen both Rahul Dravid and Hardik Pandya will have to take big calls. These include the likes of improving the batting depth of the team and making tweaks in the bowling options.
Replace Ishan Kishan with Yashasvi Jaiswal
Ishan Kishan was decent enough in the second game where he raked up 27 runs but with the opening pair failing to build partnerships and scoring big runs, it is time for the youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal to get his debut in the shortest format of the game.
The 21-year-old made his debut in the Test match series against West Indies and shocked the entire cricketing world with his immaculate batting style. But the youngster who is so dominant in the T20s should get his chance in the next game.
With Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan opening stand unsuccessful for this series, it is only logical to bring Yashasvi Jaiswal back into the game. The youngster has been destructive in the shortest format of the game as has been evident with his numerous batting performances in IPL 2023.
Moreover, Yashasvi being a left-handed batter, India can go ahead with the right-left-opening pair combination. And with Ishan Kishan not being able to perform well at the top, he can slot in lower down the order as a finisher.
Most Consecutive T20 series win record in danger, Team India on the brink
Improve batting depth
Out of the two games that India has played, the most vital aspect that has India not being able to build partnerships. Therefore Hardik Pandya and Rahul Dravid will have to bring in more dependable batters amongst their midst.
Down the order, only Tilak Varma has been the only batter who has been getting runs. In his debut match, he played a fine innings and then went on to slam a fine fifty in the 2nd T20I. But with Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav and others having failed to score runs for the Men in Blue, India will want others to take up more responsibility and avoid a series loss.
Avesh Khan for Mukesh Kumar
Mukesh Kumar has been sensible for India in the ongoing T20I series, but the shortest format of the game has not been up to his sleeve. Mukesh had a good debut in the Test series. He replicated the same form in the ODI series but he has been sub-par in the shortest format of the game.
To bring in more dynamics in the pace lineup for India, Pandya and Dravid should go on to bring in Avesh Khan as a replacement for Mukesh Kumar. With India opting for a pace-heavy bowling department, contrary to West Indies who are going for a spin-heavy side, Avesh Khan can help India claim more wickets and thereby help the Men in Blue turn the series.
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