India will face Zimbabwe in their last Super 12 match on November 6.
On the eve of the match, veteran India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin addressed a press conference, where he talked about match-ups saying that it gives a slight advantage but one shouldn’t be over-dependent on that.
“I don’t think players innately have to necessarily believe in matchups, but I think it’s an area that teams and tactical edges are happening around,” Ashwin said.
Match-ups are a concept where based on data a team decides which bowler or batter is more suitable at different junctures of the game.
“I think it’s safe to say that one end of the spectrum is to plan for all those things (match-ups), but as a bowler you need to constantly bowl to a lot of batters,” he said.
Ashwin doesn’t believe that one particular bowler should bowl to one particular batter.
“I think it is a feature that’s existing, and it is definitely being developed. As a playing unit, to only believe in that and say this guy will bowl to this person, you can’t work like that. But I think it’s giving a tactical edge to teams,” he stated.
“You need to constantly know where the Achilles heels are and work on it and try and get better. You want to add that to your skills, be it with the bat or the ball.”
According to Ashwin, the shortest format hardly gives anyone time to think even if you have done strategic analysis before the game.
“Like I said, T20 is one sport where you need to adapt quickly and also respond quickly. You don’t have the time or the bandwidth to be able to think, assess, and deliver. The time spans are very short.”
In the Australian conditions, Indian pacers have performed brilliantly and Ashwin being the premier spinner has taken 3 wickets in 4 games.
“Pretty much the roles have been the fast bowlers have set the tone. As a spinner coming in the back half 9th or 10th and then doing the job for the back end is a role that we have to adapt to,” he said.
However, he is happy with his bowling role at the back-end of the innings.
“It’s not like I haven’t done that role before. It happens in the IPL now and then. So, the demands of the game, what the situation is and what you have to deliver for the team is exactly what adaptations call.”
(With PTI inputs)