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Former cricketer Deep Dasgupta discussed the transformations within India’s T20I setup and provided insights into the current form of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
Dasgupta’s remarks came ahead of Rohit Sharma’s India facing Jos Buttler’s England in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 second semifinal. This encounter mirrors one of the semifinals from the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, where England defeated India by 10 wickets. England subsequently clinched their second T20 World Cup title by defeating Pakistan in the final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
For England to secure another title, they must overcome an undefeated Indian team that has excelled through the Group and Super 8 stages. India’s recent 24-run victory over Mitchell Marsh’s Australia solidified their status as favorites to win the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in Barbados.
Despite India’s strong campaign, the team still faces a crucial challenge with Virat Kohli yet to find his peak form. With possibly only two matches left in the World Cup, Kohli has a critical opportunity to turn his performance around in the semifinal, as luck might not favor him in the final.
Deep Dasgupta shared his assessment of the Indian team ahead of this crucial semifinal match later tonight.
Speaking to ESPNcricinfo recently, Deep Dasgupta expressed satisfaction with the evolution of India’s T20 setup. He noted that the current Indian team has undergone significant changes compared to a year ago, emphasizing that they no longer rely solely on their top order to perform consistently in every match, which has proven to be a beneficial shift for the team.
“The set-up of this Indian team has changed. If you look at, let’s say a year ago, the focus would always be on how much the top three is contributing. But this Indian team, it seems they are not thinking along those lines. It’s like we have got 8 batters, let’s see what all 8 batters can do and not just the top three.” – Dasgupta told ESPNcricinfo.
Deep Dasgupta emphasized the positive impact of India’s reduced reliance on Virat Kohli. He highlighted that this shift is beneficial for the team’s overall strategy. Regarding Kohli’s current form, Dasgupta acknowledged the batter’s efforts despite scoring only 66 runs across six matches. He noted that Kohli is focusing on executing the fundamentals well, viewing his performances against Australia and Bangladesh as encouraging signs of improvement.
