Team India came crashing out of the 2022 T20 WC after suffering a morale-crushing 10-wicket loss in a semi-final bout against England. The major difference between the two sides was the approach of their top-order batsmen.
Jos Buttler and Alex Hales looted 63 runs in the field-restricted overs while the combination of Rahul, Kohli and Rohit Sharma could make just 37 off the first 6 overs.
Team India middle-order batsman confronted the top-order batters
Reports from Sports Tak be believed, one Men in Blue middle-order batsman was furious with the top-order (presumably openers).
He repeatedly complained about the slow starts directly to the blameable players. Notably, both KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma showed little to no intent during the powerplay overs throughout the tournament.
Someone from Indian middle order batter told that indian top order batter plays slow. (Video – Sports Tak) #T20WC2022 #RohitSharma #KLRahul #ViratKohli #HardikPandya #SuryakumarYadav pic.twitter.com/5JpWQ2711o
— LSG 🏏 (@PeterParker7194) November 12, 2022
Rahul struggled for making quick runs barring the games against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe while Rohit Sharma was even poorer. Team India’s skipper made just 116 runs (109 balls) during the 2022 T20 WC at a snail-like SR of 106.
The paralyzed powerplays were a constant pain. Fans were dissatisfied with it and the same emotion was at show from a senior middle-order batter.
According to sports Tak, a senior middle order batsman was upset with the slow starts given by openers in the World Cup. He said it in the meeting that it puts too much pressure on the middle order.
— India Fantasy (@india_fantasy) November 12, 2022
The identity of the batsman who blasted the top-order for their archaic approach has not been revealed though netizens believe it might be Hardik Pandya since SKY is relatively new and others failed so badly they would have kept hush.
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If not for Surya’s attacking approach from ball one, the 2007 champs would have been out of the tournament from the group stage itself.
Former skipper Virat Kohli also was a part of the top-order that Team India played in T20 WC 2022 and didn’t show much intent in the first six. However –after playing the first 10-15 balls– Kohli had no problems accelerating and made 296 runs (4 fifties) at a respectable strike-rate of 136.