When asked about the absence of a sixth bowling option in the playing XI following Hardik Pandya’s injury, Team India coach Rahul Dravid responded in a lighthearted manner. He joked that India has a “wrong-footed, inswinging menace” in the form of Virat Kohli, a part-time medium pacer.
Since all-rounder Pandya was hurt in the 2023 World Cup match against Bangladesh, the Men in Blue have kept to the five-bowler philosophy. It has worked for them because Mohammed Shami has been outstanding with the ball, and Suryakumar Yadav has also contributed with the bat.
Rahul Dravid was questioned about the missing sixth bowler, an issue that would develop in Pandya’s absence, at a news conference ahead of India’s 2023 World Cup match against South Africa at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Despite the fact that India has Shardul Thakur, he cannot be relied on to bowl 10 overs on a constant basis.
“We have our wrong-footed, inswinging menace to call upon. And with the crowd behind him, I’d back him for a couple of overs there and a few wickets. The crowd was demanding his bowling in the last game. We came very close to giving him an over,” Dravid quipped, referring to Kohli, who is celebrating his 35th birthday on Sunday, November 5.
“And then we’ve got Surya who can turn his arm over a little bit. And then Rohit’s bowled a bit as well.”
Rahul Dravid
On a more serious note, the former India skipper noted that the Men in Blue have previously succeeded with five bowling options.
“I mean, obviously, the sixth option is something that Hardik gave us. But you’re right as well that we have been playing the last four games without the sixth bowling option. We also played a couple of games in the Australia series before the World Cup without the sixth option. We won two of our games, both in Mohali and in Indore, when we played only with five bowling options in those games as well.”
“So, we have responded really well to that challenge. Yes, of course, we probably won’t have that sixth bowling option in these games. But the response of the team and the players has been really good when we have not had it. So, I think we have played enough games without having it. And we seem to have done pretty well.”
Rahul Dravid
Shami has been a revelation for Team India since breaking into the starting lineup. He has 14 scalps in three matches, average 6.71, with two five-fers and one four-wicket haul.
“We’ve got to have confidence in our 8, 9, 10, 11” – Rahul Dravid
The long tail, with Shami batting as high as number eight, is another major danger with the five-bowler approach.
Up until now, except for the match with England, India’s lower lineup hasn’t had a challenge. However, this might shift against a sturdy South African bowling team. Nevertheless, Rahul Dravid supports India’s lower-order players and stated:
“I don’t think we are going to think about it too much. I think there’s only been one game where we’ve probably felt the need for the number eight and nine which was a game against England in Lucknow and actually our number eight and nine – after the seventh wicket the next couple of wickets gave us 46 critical runs on a tricky wicket.”
“So, I think we’ve got to have confidence in our 8, 9, 10, 11. The ones that we have now, I think they are working very hard and they are doing the best that they can. And I don’t think the batters really, to be honest, need to think about it or worry about it. I think if you play good cricket through the 50 overs and play according to the situation and what the demands of the game are, I think there’s enough quality in that top seven to look after itself.”
Rahul Dravid
India and South Africa are in for the semi-final of the 2023 World Cup. England, the previous champions, didn’t make it. They lost to Australia this Saturday.