Saba Karim believes India’s decision to employ four seamers in the opening T20I against Australia is a significant shift in strategy.
Renuka Singh, Titas Sadhu, Pooja Vastrakar, and Amanjot Kaur led a four-pronged seam assault that knocked out the Australian women for 141 at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Friday, January 5.
The hosts then chased down the low-scoring total with nine wickets and 14 deliveries remaining, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
During a Sports 18 discussion, Karim stated that India’s seam-heavy attack is a welcome improvement in their approach. He stated:
We discussed using four quick bowlers. It represents a significant shift in the Indian team’s strategy.
I believe India may have used four seamers in a T20 match for the first time in India.
The former India wicketkeeper-batter believes the strategy would pay off handsomely. He elaborated:
I believe this will be beneficial to you. This strategy will lead to the discovery of new bowlers, the same as how Titas Sadhu was discovered.
On a nice wicket, you halted a top-quality batting team at 141.
Harmanpreet Kaur stated at the post-match presentation that the Indian team management made a last-minute decision to choose Titas Sadhu over Saika Ishaque, despite the left-arm spinner’s three-wicket haul in the last T20I against England.
The Bengal seamer justified his judgment by dismissing the Australian batting order in four overs for 4/17.
India has to win these games to believe that they can not only compete but also beat Australia in World Cup matches – Saba Karim
Saba Karim feels India’s decisive win in the first T20I would serve them well when they play Australia in international games.
He remarked, “It was a battle of belief.” India has to win these games to believe that they can not only compete but also beat Australia in World Cup matches.
The start has been excellent, but I expect India to win the following two games.
Karim described the victory as an all-around team effort, adding:
Merely your perspective will change, whether you can merely compete or defeat them; for that, you must record such victories.
It was an excellent performance. The bowling was excellent.
Following that, how they pursued the objective indicates that the trend in international cricket would gradually shift.
Shafali Verma (64* off 44) and Smriti Mandhana (54 off 52) put on a 137-run opening stand in 15.2 overs to effectively ensure India’s victory.
Jemimah Rodrigues then hit the winning boundary, handing Australia a humiliating loss.
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