As India faced a challenging uphill battle in their third T20I against England at Rajkot, the spotlight shifted towards Dhruv Jurel during a crucial moment when the team found itself reeling at 68 for 4 and later at 85 for 5 in pursuit of a modest target of 172 runs. Instead of Jurel, Washington Sundar and Axar Patel were sent in to stabilize the innings. Jurel eventually made his entry at the number eight position, with India positioned at 123 for 6 in the 18th over, and needed to elevate the run rate significantly. This late entry saw him contribute merely two runs off four balls, as India ultimately fell short by 26 runs.
The decision to withhold Jurel from an earlier batting position stemmed from a strategic approach aimed at maintaining a left-right batting combination during the middle overs of the game, a tactic confirmed by assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate. During a press briefing prior to the fourth T20I in Pune, he highlighted the importance of this strategy, identifying it as a significant aspect of head coach Gautam Gambhir's methodology when managing teams in T20 cricket. Despite the outcome not showcasing Jurel's capabilities, the coaching staff remains steadfast in believing that such strategic plans hold value over time.
Flexibility in batting order has been a recurring theme throughout the series, as vice-captain Axar Patel had indicated before it began. The specificity of this approach was evident when Suryakumar Yadav took the pivotal role of number three after Sanju Samson's dismissal in both the first and third matches, while Tilak Varma stepped in for Abhishek Sharma in the second match. Such tactical adjustments demonstrate an adaptable strategy designed to maximize scoring potential at various junctures of the innings.
India remains cognizant of the risks associated with their aggressive style of play, which has been beneficial up to this point. The team is particularly focused on the performance of their captain Suryakumar Yadav, who has recently struggled for runs. Following a two-ball duck in the previous easy win in Kolkata, Suryakumar displayed some improvement with brief contributions in the subsequent matches, scoring 12 runs in Chennai with three fours and managing 14 runs in Rajkot with a combination of a four and a six. However, his recent record has raised concerns, as he has amassed a mere 52 runs across his last six innings—marking the first time he has failed to achieve a fifty in T20Is over such a stretch.
Ten Doeschate offered insight into Suryakumar’s current performance, acknowledging the high standards he has set for himself. Despite the inconsistency now apparent in his scores, he emphasized that the notion of predictability is not a crucial measure in T20 cricket. The roles assigned to players demand a focus on rapid scoring, with periods of low form being part of the gameplay landscape. Training sessions and practice performances remain indicators of a player's imminent return to form, as evidenced by Suryakumar's recent technique improvements noted by the coaching staff.
The coaching setup led by Gambhir faces unique challenges as they navigate a roster experiencing a transitional phase. Since the last T20 World Cup victory, notable departures from the format include stalwarts like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja. The team has also seen R Ashwin retire from international cricket amidst a series of setbacks, including a home Test series loss to New Zealand and yielding the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time since the 2014-15 season.
Despite the favorable results in T20Is, where India boasts a record of 15 victories out of 18 matches following the World Cup, ten Doeschate cautioned against hastily concluding that the transition phase has been without difficulties. While the current record may suggest operational fluidity, he highlighted that the realities of team performance across all formats, including Tests and ODIs, may not uniformly reflect the narrative of a successful transition. The summation, he noted, is that management and coaching must remain vigilant and responsive to the varied demands inherent in the different formats of the game.
As the series progresses and with the fourth T20I on the horizon, India will look to meld its strategic ingenuity with on-field execution to enhance their performance further. The emphasis on adapting to various situations will continue to play a defining role in shaping not just individual performances, but the collective success of the Indian cricket team as they confront the evolving challenges posed by international competition.
This comprehensive understanding of both individual and team dynamics will serve to maximize their potential as they move forward, setting the stage for a competitive atmosphere in the remainder of the series.
S Sudarshanan serves as a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo.