India Need To Identify Batsmen Who Can Bowl Ahead Of Next Year's T20 World Cup In Australia - VVS Laxman

After India‘s group-stage exit from the ongoing T20 World Cup in the UAE, former batter VVS Laxman reckons the side should soon start preparations for next year’s event, to be held in Australia.

VVS Laxman highlighted that an important issue which the management – under new coach Rahul Dravid and new T20I captain – needs to tackle is the lack of bowling options in the eleven.

With Hardik Pandya not fit to give 3-4 overs regularly, India have been lacking at the sixth or seventh bowling alternative. VVS Laxman asserted that the management should find batsmen who can offer support to the main bowlers.

“The other important aspect is to identify batsmen who can bowl because we’ve seen that if you have the sixth or seventh bowling option, the captain will definitely not be under pressure.

“We know Hardik Pandya has been struggling with his fitness. So, get a couple of batsmen who can also take two overs, that will be very critical for the World Cup in Australia.” VVS Laxman said while speaking to Star Sports.

Very important to identify a couple of bowlers who bowl quick: VVS Laxman

Further, highlighting the hard and bouncy pitches in Australia, the 47-year-old commentator stressed on grooming bowlers who can bowl express pace.

In the current India squad, only Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami are capable of clocking 140 kph regularly, while the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shardul Thakur, and Deepak Chahar are predominantly swing bowlers, who VVS Laxman reckons may not be as effective in Australia.

In that case, India can look towards young Umran Malik, who recently displayed his menacing pace in the IPL and is already with the contingent as a net bowler.

“Yeah I think it is very important to identify a couple of bowlers who bowl quick because the conditions in Australia will be totally different, where I’m not sure the ball will swing too much.

“But having someone who can bowl quick, extract the bounce and pace of that wicket and at the same time can use the variations because you want someone who can also finish off the innings well with the ball,” VVS Laxman stated.

India will play their last game of the tournament on Monday, versus Namibia. This is also the last match for Virat Kohli and T20I captain and Ravi Shastri as the head coach.

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