"It's the first time bowling has won India every match" - Navjot Sidhu on Men in Blue's positives after IND vs USA 2024 T20 World Cup clash
Navjot Singh Sidhu has picked the bowlers' match-winning performances as one of India's positives in the 2024 World Cup thus far. He noted that the Men in Blue playing like a cohesive unit has yielded them rich dividends.
India beat the United States of America by seven wickets in New York on Wednesday, June 12. The win consolidated their top position in Group A and assured them of a spot in the Super Eights.
During a discussion on Star Sports, Sidhu was asked about the positives for India from their three wins in New York.
"India's batting has been winning us matches for such a long time. However, it's the first time bowling has won India every match. The positive for me is that the Indian team is playing as a herd. The wolves will always hunt in packs. Now it's no longer a pair, it's now become a pack. It's a herd of five or six people and someone or the other raises his hand every time," he responded.
The former India opener noted that Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh have formed a formidable seam-bowling pair and have been assisted brilliantly by the other bowlers.
"We talk about Bumrah every time but Bumrah becomes doubly strong when Arshdeep bowls from the other end. Once Arshdeep took two wickets in the first over, they (USA) could never emerge from there. Bumrah alone and Arshdeep alone are nothing, it's the combination of Hardik Pandya and then those two spinners," Sidhu observed.
Arshdeep registered figures of 4/9 against the USA and was duly awarded the Player of the Match. Bumrah was the Player of the Match in India's wins against Ireland and Pakistan.
"I feel the situations will change but India have an answer for every situation" - Navjot Sidhu
Navjot Sidhu acknowledged that the conditions might be different in the Super 8 stage. However, he added that India have the resources for all conditions.
"When you will go to the West Indies from here, the conditions will change and it will be the turn of the spinners. Then the four spinners you have will have to come to the forefront. I feel the situations will change but India have an answer for every situation," he said.
The cricketer-turned-commentator concluded by lauding Rohit Sharma and company for playing as a unit and being the dominant team in New York.
"It's a team that is emerging. Wins are never achieved without a cohesive unit. That's the point that I want to take. It's Team India that is performing to the epitome. There is only one team that has dominated this pool (matches in New York). South Africa have done to an extent but they had very close matches. India - miles ahead," Sidhu stated.
India will play their final group game against Canada in Florida on Saturday, June 15. The Super Eights and the knockout matches will be played in the West Indies, with the pitches likely to be spin-friendly.