India have quietly but firmly stamped themselves as the benchmark of this T20 World Cup. Under Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership, the defending champions have carried forward the momentum of 2024 with ruthless efficiency, extending their winning streak in Men’s T20 World Cups to a record 12 matches across two editions.
As India march into the Super 8s unbeaten, the bigger question facing the rest of the competition is no longer about qualification or match ups. It is far tougher: how does a team beat India? That exact question became the centre of a discussion between former England cricketers David Lloyd, Michael Vaughan, Alastair Cook, and Phil Tufnell where they tried to crack the code.
“Let’s get back to the T20 World Cup how do you beat India I mean Abhishek Sharma he’s been a gun He’s got four noughts off the last five innings,” Vaughan said on The Overlap Cricket YouTube channel.
Cook was quick to defend the youngster backing him to respond under pressure but that word pressure kept resurfacing throughout the conversation. Tufnell felt it may be the only hope teams have left.
“You’ve got to hope I mean it is it’s a lottery at the end of the day isn’t it I mean these associates have got close but that’s what you’d like to think as you were saying as the pressure ramps up,” Tufnell said.
Cook echoed the sentiment bluntly.
“That’s the only thing beating India is pressure,” Cook said.
Lloyd then steered the chat towards tactics throwing up the classic question of approach.
“What do you want to do Do you want to bat first or bowl first against India tactically,” Lloyd remarked.
Cook’s answer reflected both experience and realism.
“I think you have to I think you have to put runs on the board Old school and just hope that you can get a couple get a couple early and then the pressure of them needing to go at 9 to 10 an over The problem is that they are so good because they play so much of it in those conditions that in every scenario they come across they seem to find a way Like the first game 70 for seven against the USA,” Cook responded.
That USA match became a recurring reference point. Vaughan noted just how close the Americans came.
“Well the USA are the team that has got the closest to them so far,” the former England captain noted.
“And they still got themselves out of the hole,” Tuffnell responded.
The tactical probing continued when Lloyd asked whether pace or variations were the answer. Cook’s response summed up the wider frustration.
“I don’t think it matters Well I think it depends on the pitch isn’t it You’re almost hoping that they have to play below their potential for any other side to have a chance,” Cook added.
Interestingly India have not even peaked yet. While results have been flawless, the batting unit has not clicked as a collective, leaving room for growth as the Super 8s begin.
India open their Super 8 campaign with a blockbuster clash against South Africa in Ahmedabad on February 22 before travelling to Chennai to face Zimbabwe on February 26. Their Super 8 concludes in Kolkata with a high voltage encounter against the West Indies on March 1.
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