Ashwin backs India's grit as they march into T20 World Cup Super 8
Ashwin backs India's grit as they march into T20 World Cup Super 8
Ravichandran Ashwin lauds India's batting depth and key bowlers as the defending champions advance to the Super 8s, eyeing tougher tests ahead.
India have sealed their group-stage campaign and are now set for a sterner exam in the Super 8s. The defending champions will face tough opposition next, including 2024 runners-up South Africa, the West Indies and Zimbabwe. They swept through the group with purpose, quietly underscoring their title credentials even when not firing on all cylinders.
Ravichandran Ashwin, speaking on Ash ki Baat, praised the batting depth and highlighted crucial spells from Varun Chakaravarthy and Jasprit Bumrah. He credited Suryakumar Yadav for anchoring the innings, while Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya and Rinku Singh were deployed to lift the scoring rate at the right moments. Ashwin stressed that even on ordinary days, the team remains hard to beat thanks to its overall strength. He also spoke about Tilak Varma working his way back after an injury, emphasizing that timing and placement can be more important than raw power in the shortest format.
Tilak Varma is coming back after an injury, and his evolving approach in T20 cricket has become a talking point. Ashwin noted that power is not the only path to success; finding the sweet spot and precise placement are fundamental. Varun Chakaravarthy bowled with remarkable control, denying Netherlands the space to accelerate, while Bumrah showed his hallmark swing in the Powerplay and delivered timely yorkers.
Looking ahead, the Super 8 schedule will feature fixtures across India and Sri Lanka from late February to early March, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi finals. India, the defending champions, head into the next stage with a blend of depth and discipline that their supporters believe can carry them to another title.
