IND v BAN 2019: Rohit Sharma hints at rejigging the pace combination for Rajkot T20I

Indian bowlers failed to defend the total of 148 on a sluggish Kotla track in the T20I series opener.

Shardul Thakur is likely to replace Khaleel Ahmed for the second T20I | Getty

Ahead of the second T20I against Bangladesh in Rajkot, India’s stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma hinted at changing the pace combination while defending the batting line-up.

Read Also: Rajkot to serve batting strip for second T20I amid rain threat

Team India suffered a seven-wicket defeat in the first T20I in Delhi and went 1-0 down in the three-match series.

"Our batting looks good. So I don't think there's any change we need to make in our batting. But we'll analyze the pitch, and based on that we'll see what we can do as a team," Rohit told reporters at the pre-match interaction.

The hosts posted a par-score of 148 on a sluggish Kotla track and it was left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed, who was hit for four boundaries in the 19th over by Mushfiqur Rahim that turned the game on its head.

While Rohit didn't mention any name but there is a high chance of Shardul Thakur coming in place of Khaleel.

"The (pace-bowling) combination that we played in the last game, it was based on the pitch that was on offer in Delhi. We will see the pitch again today and we will think what we need to do in our bowling line-up," the skipper said.

In the must-win game for India, Rohit is expecting the Rajkot deck to play better than the one at Kotla.

"The pitch looks good. Rajkot has always been a good track to bat on and it does offer some assistance to the bowlers also. It will be a good pitch. I'm pretty sure it will be better than what you saw in Delhi," he remarked.

Enquired about the strategy, the 32-year-old said: "I cannot tell you strategy but what I can definitely tell you is that there will be changes in our approach. In the last match (in New Delhi), we played according to the pitch. We were playing as per the ways the pitch was reacting.

"But if the pitch here (at Rajkot) is good, our approach will be different as well in both bowling and batting (departments)."

He also asked for a collective performance from his troops.

"The batsmen need to get the job done, the bowlers need to come out and take those crucial wickets. That will be the idea. We are not focusing on any individual departments. Because we lost as a team, not as individuals."

For Rohit, it is important that players learn from the mistakes of previous outing.

"We were short in a lot of departments. It is important to focus on the mistakes we made and make sure those mistakes are not repeated again. That is the sign of a good team, when you don't repeat mistakes," he concluded.

(With PTI inputs)

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 06 Nov, 2019

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