India has been a gun side, especially since their maiden T20 World Cup win in 2007. They are one of the most consistent teams in world cricket. India has made it to the knockouts of most of the ICC events in the recent past. In the period between 2007-13, India won every possible ICC trophy.-
What Is Indian Top-Order’s Biggest Weakness?
The glorious run: 2007-13!
It started with the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007. India soon went atop the ICC Test rankings. The Test mace found its place in the Indian team’s cupboard. India then went on to big prize in 2011. They became the first side to win the ODI World Cup at home. India’s golden run culminated with the Championship trophy win in 2013.
The knockouts pain: 2014-16!
It has been quite some time since India won a major ICC trophy. India made it to the finals of the 2014 T20 World Cup only to lose it against Sri Lanka. They lost in the semifinals of the 2015 ODI World Cup, and the 2016 T20 World Cup. India lost out to better opponents on the day. It was a bitter pill to swallow yet the fans made peace with the loss.
The unexplainable: Champions Trophy Final, 2017
India was the form team heading into the Champions Trophy in 2017. They won resoundingly against Pakistan in the opening game. The final was a rematch between the arch-rivals. Pakistan posted a stunning 338 batting first. But India had a strong batting lineup to chase the total down. The match though was as good as over in the first ten overs of India’s chase. Left-arm seamer Mohammad Amir ripped through India’s top order.
The unfathomable: World Cup Semi-final, 2019
It was a strange World Cup ODI semifinal that stretched over two days. India was chasing a modest target of 240. But Trent Boult and Matt Henry shredded Indian hearts within the first four overs. India tottered at 5-3 and another World Cup slipped out of the hands. It was the left-arm seam of Trent Boult that India found too hot to handle. The lesson was clearly not learnt.
History repeated too soon: T20 World Cup 2021
The match between India and Pakistan was billed to be the game of the tournament. But Shaheen Shah Afridi’s opening spell reduced India to tatters. He removed Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul in a span of two magical overs. It was again a left-arm seamer who dented India. Trent Boult did pretty much the same in the second game. India was all but out of the World Cup even before it began.
Has India gotten any better?
The left-arm seam angle for some strange reason continues to bother Indian batsmen. Bowlers like Marco Jansen and Reece Topley have strangled the Indian top-order. Quality players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli continue to succumb to such bowlers. There will be no dearth of left-arm pacers in future ICC events. How well India counter that challenge will decide their fate in the upcoming World Cups.
