'We expect them to back their strengths' - Batting Coach Vikram Rathour defends Indian bowlers despite recent struggles

India won against Australia by 2-1 in the recently concluded three-match T20I series at home but it was not a very convincing performance ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022. Once again Indian batters, especially Suryakumar Yadav and Virat Kohli, dominated the series but bowlers came under scrutiny for not being able to defend big totals.

India posted a mammoth 208 in the first T20I but Australia easily reached the target with four balls to spare. In the recently concluded 2022 Asia Cup, India's two defeats against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, also came while defending big 170-plus targets. Notably, Indian bowlers, including Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Jasprit Bumrah, conceded runs at an economy rate of over 12.00 against Australia in the recent series.

But Vikram Rathour, India's batting coach, has defended Indian bowlers and stated that toss and dew have been a big factor in the recent struggles while defending totals.

"We are working on that area of getting better at defending targets. But to be fair to our bowlers, toss plays a vital role and every time we have not been able to defend are the places where there has been dew, so it gets easier to chase. We are working on that area of getting better at defending targets.

But to be fair to our bowlers, toss plays a vital role and every time we have not been able to defend are the places where there has been dew, so it gets easier to chase," Vikram Rathour said before India's first T20I match against South Africa in Thiruvananthapuram. 

We are not telling them anything: Vikram Rathour backs Arshdeep Singh 

Indian management rested Arshdeep Singh for the series against Australia but the left-arm pacer is back in the squad to face South Africa. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is rested and Mohammed Shami hasn't recovered from COVID-19 yet so the youngster is likely to get enough game time in the series against the Proteas.

Rathour supported Arshdeep and stated that the bowler has the composure to handle pressure in difficult conditions.

"At this level, we are not telling them anything. Arsh (Arshdeep Singh) has done extremely well in IPL in death overs, so we just support them to follow plans. They know where to bowl to each batter and follow their plans. We expect them (bowling unit) to back their strengths. There are no specific areas I want Arshdeep to improve and he has the composure to handle pressure in difficult conditions," Rathour added.