India vs West Indies: 3 tweaks the Men In Blue need to make for the 3rd T20I

#2 Let Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer play at No.3 and No.4 respectively

Virat Kohli

At the Greenfield International Stadium, India sprung a major surprise when Shivam Dube walked out to bat at No.3, instead of Virat Kohli. The youngster went on to enthral the audience en route a whirlwind half-century, meaning that the decision was vindicated.

However, once the left-hander perished, Kohli looked extremely patchy batting in the middle overs. The sluggish nature of the pitch and the pressure to keep up the burgeoning run rate meant that the Indian skipper tried to force proceedings rather than easing into his essay.

Inevitably, he attempted a shot too many and was dismissed by Kesrick Williams.

A few overs later, Shreyas Iyer was also sent packing after he completely miscued a lofted shot off Hayden Walsh Jr. The Mumbaikar, akin to Kohli, had scratched around for his runs before opting to break the shackles.

Thus, both batsmen had gotten out trying to play a slightly different role to what they’ve been naturally accustomed to.

Kohli and Shreyas are excellent rotators of strike and both like a few deliveries to get into their groove. Moreover, the pair has primarily batted at the top of the order with the former in particular, boasting the rare attribute of controlling games.

Thus, it would seem a travesty if the duo is wasted lower down the order, where at times, they might have to up the ante from the first ball they face. The aforementioned batsmen are excellent at setting the tempo and then increasing it, whereas someone of the ilk of Rishabh Pant or even Shivam are more acclimatised to pulling off the extravagant shots early in their innings.

And, while India seemingly turned a T20I corner with their inclination to shuffle their batting pack, one reckons they might be better served utilising their resources optimally in the deciding encounter.