India's Batting Legacy: Dravid and Sharma's Impact

As the current Indian leadership group approaches the end of its tenure, it's time to reflect on their legacy. Their most significant contribution has been the transformation of India's limited-overs batting approach. Virat Kohli, for instance, has evolved into a formidable T20 batter while maintaining his ODI prowess.

However, in India, legacy is often measured by ICC trophies. Unfortunately, this remains the yardstick for a team that has consistently ranked among the best. Ironically, while Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma's tenure has been marked by an aggressive batting philosophy, their legacy of pushing the boundaries has taken a back seat.

Two of India's most explosive hitters, Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube, have been forced to adopt a more conservative approach, akin to the middle overs of an ODI. "We've pushed the needle forward in terms of our batting," Dravid acknowledged. "But we also need to be mindful of conditions."

In T20 cricket, the batters' approach plays a crucial role, and it varies depending on the conditions. The unpredictability of new conditions in the West Indies will pose a challenge for India in the Super Eight.

"We feel we've got the experience and knowledge to counteract different situations," Dravid said. "We're looking at past games, scores, swing, turn, and bounce."

However, Dravid emphasized the importance of adaptability. "Conditions can be very different to what you think it is," he said. "We will have to be quick and smart in assessing the conditions."

One subtle but noticeable change in India's approach has been their willingness to adjust down rather than up. The top order, particularly Kohli, has shown faith in the batters to follow. This approach, combined with courage and indifference towards the end result, could prove beneficial for India in the T20 knockouts.

Tags: #Cricket, #T20, #India, #Batting, #Legacy