3 things India need to do right to beat Australia in their 2024 T20 World Cup Super 8 clash
Team India are all set to lock horns with Australia in a tantalizing 2024 T20 World Cup clash in St Lucia on Monday, June 24. This encounter will have a major bearing on which teams qualify from the Super 8 stage in Group 1.
Following their loss to Afghanistan, Australia are under the pump and need to secure a win to keep their fate in their own hands. India, meanwhile, are in a better position and are favored to reach the semifinals without any major hiccups.
That said, though, the Men in Blue will treat this clash as a must-win game, given the chance to weaken the playing field for the knockouts. Moreover, they will not want to lose momentum ahead of the semifinals and need to be spot-on from a tactical standpoint.
Here are three things India need to do right to beat Australia in their 2024 T20 World Cup Super 8 clash.
#3 Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja need to be shielded from left-handers
India are currently playing with two left-arm spinners and just three fast bowlers, so they have had to bowl negative matchups while left-handers are at the crease. Axar Patel bowled a tight over to Imad Wasim, and both he and Ravindra Jadeja have been economical enough.
However, Rohit Sharma can't afford to bowl Axar in the powerplay against David Warner and Travis Head, even though the composition of the team means that one or two overs of spin in the first six would be ideal. Even post the powerplay, if a left-hander is at the crease, bowling either Axar or Jadeja won't be the best idea.
India might have gotten away with it so far, but Australia will punish them if they don't get their bowling changes right.
#2 Shivam Dube must be promoted ahead of Suryakumar Yadav if the entry point works out
Under normal circumstances, Suryakumar Yadav shouldn't be batting anywhere below No. 4. In fact, even No. 4 is arguably one position too low for one of the world's best T20 batters.
However, with Rishabh Pant batting at No. 3, it might be in India's best interests to hold Suryakumar back if Ashton Agar and Adam Zampa operate in tandem in the middle overs. Suryakumar has had his weaknesses against left-arm spinners, who Dube needs to take on to add value to the team.
Moreover, Australia's fast bowlers are far too smart and accurate to be taken to the cleaners by Dube. Unless the tall southpaw faces spinners, he could turn out to be a liability in St Lucia.
#1 India need to target the top of Travis Head's off stump relentlessly
It just didn't happen in the 2023 World Cup final, but India's bowlers will know what they need to do against Travis Head. He has been troubled by deliveries around the off-stump and on a good length, especially when he is cramped by right-arm pacers coming around the wicket.
In Australia's last game, Naveen-ul-Haq took the new ball and got one to shape away beautifully. Head, trying to manufacture room by exposing the stumps, was castled early, and the Kangaroos never recovered.
Jasprit Bumrah hasn't always taken the new ball in this T20 World Cup, but he might need to on Monday.