Stephen Fleming, the head coach of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), has lauded India’s approach in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 so far. India, under coach Rahul Dravid, has lived up to their favourites tag with convincing wins over Ireland, Pakistan, and the United States in the US leg of the tournament.
One of India’s most debated decisions involved their opening partnership. They opted for experience over youth, pairing Virat Kohli with Rohit Sharma at the top of the order. This meant leaving the in-form Yashasvi Jaiswal on the bench. Kohli, fresh off a phenomenal IPL season where he secured the Orange Cap, was expected to bolster the top order. However, his performances in the group stage haven’t lived up to the hype, with scores of 1, 4, and 0.
Fleming Praises India’s T20 World Cup Strategy
Despite Kohli’s early struggles, Fleming believes India has made the right call. In an interview with ESPNCricinfo during the Super 8 stage, the former New Zealand batsman acknowledged the challenging decisions the team had to make. He commended coach Dravid and the selectors for picking a squad specifically designed to win the championship. This is particularly significant as the T20 World Cup marks the end of Dravid’s tenure as head coach.
“They had some tough calls to make,” Fleming admitted, acknowledging the omission of Jaiswal. “Leaving out top-quality players is never easy. But I like what they’ve done, they’ve gotten through it. In some ways, this team is picked for the finals. They have spinners who can dominate, and they have batsmen who can handle spin bowling â something we’ve seen play a big role in the West Indies, though less so in New York.”
India Looks Ahead: Super 8s and Beyond
Fleming highlighted the productive practice session India’s star players â Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav â had in the Caribbean leg. Kohli was the first to hit the nets, followed by Jadeja and Hardik Pandya. Their focus and determination bode well for India’s upcoming matches.
India’s first challenge in the Super 8s will be against Afghanistan at the Kensington Oval on Thursday. Fleming believes India is well-positioned for success. “I think they’ve done the job,” he concluded. “They’ve got a clear vision for how they want to play the crucial games leading into the semi-finals and hopefully the final. They’ve picked a team that can excel on turning tracks, offering them the best chance at the top of the order with good overall balance. We’ve seen glimpses of that already, and it’s just a matter of conditions falling into place. They’re definitely in good shape.”
With the knockout stages approaching, the pressure is on for India. However, with a squad strategically built for success and the backing of experienced figures like Stephen Fleming, they appear well-equipped to bring home the coveted T20 World Cup trophy.
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