“Surprised that none of the top five can bowl a little bit” – Michael Vaughan on dearth of allrounders in Indian side

“Surprised that none of the top five can bowl a little bit” – Michael Vaughan on dearth of allrounders in Indian side
Michael Vaughan

India suffered a comprehensive 66 run defeat in the first ODI of the series against Australia. While there were many reasons behind the visitors’ dismal performance, the most prominent of it was the lack of extra bowling options. India went into the game with only five bowling options and once the Aussie batsmen were set, skipper Virat Kohli was found helpless with nowhere to turn.

Hardik Pandya‘s back injury has rendered him into a specialist batsman. And this means India lacks variety in their bowling attack which boasts the likes of Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah. Yesterday’s encounter proved that a sixth bowler is very essential in white-ball cricket. Because even the best of bowlers can have an off day or hit a lean patch.

It’s a different era of white ball cricket

India Cricket Team

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan feels that teams need to have at least seven if not eight bowling options in this era of white-ball cricket. Vaughan explains that batsmen in modern-day cricket tend to pick on bowlers and it is always better to have variety in your bowling lineup. He goes on to add that as skipper lack of options can “derail” one’s thought process, something we witnessed in the game against Australia.

“I dont think you can get away with it in this era of white ball cricket, I think you need six or seven options if not eight. I know Hardik’s got this problem with his back. So he will come back and that’s the sixth option. But even with six, I still think you need one other option. Its a different era of white ball cricket, the way these batters attack the bowlers. The matchups, they pick on the bowlers that they know, kinda knock out the attack. It really derails you as a captain,” Vaughan said on Cricbuzz Live.

It derails you as a captain

Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli

The 46-year-old feels that India must start looking for batsmen who can contribute with the ball. Vaughan recalls how balanced the Indian side looked a decade ago when the top five batters in Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina could chip in with economical overs. The Englishman adds that the bowlers should also look to work on their batting to contribute for the side. Vaughan feels it should be India’s top priority as they prepare for the 2023 World Cup at home.

“Some surprise by the make up of the side. I am surprised that India doesn’t have more allrounders, surprised that none of the top five can bowl a little bit. You go back 10 years ago and India had a top five where all could contribute a little bit with the ball. So that is something I think India needs to lookout in white ball cricket.”

“How do they get deep with the batting and how do they can find a number 8 and 9 who can strike the ball better than they are doing now. And how can they get more bowling option with one or two of the top four offering something with the ball in hand. It might be something they can look at over the course, from now to the next World Cup,” he concluded.

Also read : “No one better than him for batting at 6 or 7” – Gautam Gambhir hails “specialist batsman” Hardik Pandya