The India cricket team are favourites to lift the ICC Champions Trophy. They have yet to lose a match and have beaten each opponent rather comfortably. But in their path towards glory stands Australia. The two teams have become arch-nemeses in the last couple of years. They are undoubtedly the best sides in the world. But the match might not be India vs. Australia but rather India vs. Travis Head.
The opener has singlehandedly denied Team India two ICC trophies. Both times I scored a hundred. The fear of Travis Head lives in the hearts of fans. Fear of a moustache man who doesn’t seem to have a solid technique and often starts jittery. Only to end all hopes in a flash. So, Team India will have to prepare to nullify the Head threat.
3 ways India can break Travis Head jinx
Weakness against right-arm pacers in powerplay
Head has issues with the new ball when going against right-arm fast bowlers. But even there is a catch. He only struggles against pacers when they come from around the wicket.
Travis Head vs right-arm pacers in Powerplay since 2022
| Angle | Innings | Runs | Balls Faced | Strike Rate | Outs | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Over | 21 | 280 | 224 | 125 | 5 | 56 |
| Round | 19 | 178 | 160 | 111.25 | 8 | 22.25 |
X-factor: Varun Chakaravarthy
Head hasn’t faced Varun Chakaravarthy yet. Neither in international cricket nor in the Indian Premier League (IPL). This means he might have trouble going against his unorthodox action. Team India introduced spin (Axar Patel) in the 7th over against New Zealand. Rohit Sharma can do that if Head is still batting; the only difference would be that Chakaravarthy would be bowling to him.
Cramping for room
Something that has worked for bowlers is cramping Head for room. For this, you need to consistently pitch the ball around off-stump. This works especially well in the start when the southpaw seems jittery. Head doesn’t move his feet much and goes for shots even when he can free his hands. Jasprit Bumrah got him out in a similar fashion, albeit in Test cricket.
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