According to former Australian cricketer turned coach Michael Klinger, India’s recent series against New Zealand demonstrated why the reigning champions would be very difficult to defeat in the forthcoming T20 World Cup. India’s aggressive top-order core makes them arguably the strongest unit going into the World Cup, according to Klinger, the head coach of WPL franchise Gujarat Giants.
“With the form they’re in and what I saw recently against New Zealand, India are going to be extremely difficult to beat. A team will probably have to catch them on a bad night in a final to beat them,” PTI quoted Klinger as saying.
According to Klinger, one notable aspect of India’s new template at the top has been the rise of Abhishek Sharma. With 1297 runs at a strike rate of 194.74 in 33 games, including two hundreds and eight fifties, the young opener has shown himself to be an unstoppable batsman for India in T20 Internationals.
“Abhishek Sharma is probably my new favourite player. I’ve been watching him for a while now. Opening with Travis Head in the IPL and now doing it at international level, he’s fearless and amazing to watch,” said Klinger, who appeared in 182 first-class games for Australia apart from playing three T20s.
Abhishek and Kishan, who constantly put pressure on New Zealand bowlers, demonstrated India’s fearless style.
“Ishan Kishan has come back in fantastic form and is certainly putting a case forward to start in the XI at the World Cup,” he said, adding that India’s bench strength has turned selection into a dilemma, not a concern.
Klinger warned, though, that India would not have it easy against their traditional rivals. “Australia and South Africa are strong teams. South Africa, coming off a lot of T20 cricket recently, will be dangerous as well,” he said.
