India's explosive batter Suryakumar Yadav's childhood coach, Ashok Aswalkar, has given some unconventional advice ahead of the crucial India-Australia clash in the 2024 T20 World Cup. As India prepares for this pivotal match at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in Saint Lucia, Aswalkar has emphasised the importance of playing "normal cricket" and avoiding unnecessary experimentation against the Aussies.
Aswalkar's advice comes at a critical time as Australia, reeling from a surprising defeat to Afghanistan, faces a must-win situation against India. He praised India's consistent performance and highlighted the exceptional form of ace bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who has taken 10 wickets in just five games in the tournament.
India's strategy in the T20 World Cup has primarily focused on their pace attack, despite selecting four spinners for the tournament. Aswalkar supported this decision, citing Rohit Sharma's leadership and the effectiveness of Kuldeep Yadav on slow wickets.
Suryakumar Yadav has been a standout performer for India, scoring two half-centuries in the tournament, including a crucial one against Afghanistan. Aswalkar advised Suryakumar to play without pressure and offered specific advice to wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant.
"He needs some time. He has hitting power and India has to utilise it somewhere. Rishabh Pant is playing the wrong shots and losing his wicket. Suryakumar, Rishabh and all are performing well. I just advise the wicketkeeper-batter to not play the reverse shot. I want Suryakumar to play without any pressure," Aswalkar said.
Reflecting on Afghanistan's historic win over Australia, Aswalkar acknowledged Afghanistan's bowling prowess and cautioned against underestimating them in future matches. He noted that Australia's complacency contributed to their defeat, and emphasised the potential of Afghanistan's bowlers to challenge any team in the World Cup.
India currently leads Group 1 with four points, while Australia and Afghanistan each have two points. Bangladesh is yet to secure a win in the Super Eight stage. The upcoming match between India and Australia is crucial for both teams' hopes of advancing to the semi-finals.