3. Fielding
While India dropped only four catches in the league phase—the least among all the teams in the tournament—there is still significant room for improvement as far as ground fielding is concerned.
Apart from Kohli, Hardik Pandya, Jadeja and Rohit Sharma to a certain extent, there are not too many agile movers in this current Indian squad who can hurtle themselves around on the spur of the moment within the thirty-yard-circle, or dive full length to save a certain boundary in the outfield.
In the knockouts, where the margin of difference separating the winner from the loser could be as low as 10 to 15 runs, fielding will be as decisive a factor as batting and bowling in terms of the eventual outcome of the games.
Since India is currently playing with three specialist wicket-keepers in the XI, it is imperative that the best fielders in the squad like Kohli and Jadeja are deployed in the right positions and remain extra vigilant.
India’s fielding coach R. Sridhar has admitted that Rishabh Pant needs to improve as an outfielder and enhance his throwing technique. Under such circumstances, Ravindra Jadeja”s inclusion for the knockouts could provide that much-needed edge to India’s fielding.
Interestingly, even though he has played just one game in the tournament so far, he saved 13+ runs in the field as a substitute fielder only, which led experts and fans alike to call him cricket’s own version of the ‘super sub”.
