Indian management asks Nagpur ground staff to push boundaries back for 2nd T20I

In a bi­­­­­d to keep the 3-match T20I series alive, India are expected to readdress chinks in their line up and give it their all to test a strong English side high on confidence after 2 consecutive wins on a difficult tour. According to reports, the Indian team management has instructed the ground staff at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur, a venue where India are yet to win a T20 international, to make full use of the big ground by pushing the boundary ropes as far back as possible.

This move comes in a bid to make life difficult for the hard hitting aggressive English batsman and attach a bigger risk in taking the aerial route as they have done throughout the limited-overs leg of the series. Most recently in the first T20I where they smashed 7 sixes in pursuit of 147 compared to India’s scratchy batting performance that had just one maximum.

The Indian lineup has as many as 5 prospective spinners in their ranks, including Amit Mishra, Yuzvendra Chahal, Parvez Rasool, Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh, and they are expected to play a defining role in the must-win match for the Men in Blue. With the spinners inviting them to take the aerial route on a pitch with turn, the probability of the batsman holing out increases, something that the Indian management is mindful of.

‘Keep it to 75 yards all round,’ was the message conveyed to groundsmen as reported by The Indian Express.

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Young leggie Yuzvendra Chahal, the pick of the bowlers in the previous match with 2/27, was licking his lips at the prospect of a bigger ground, “Big ground makes a difference. You can flight the ball. Also, there’s a doubt in batsmen’s mind as to which ball to hit and he will have to make a choice. In a small ground, the batsman can try hitting every ball, but here he has to pick and choose.” He further added, “My aim is to bowl stump-to-stump. It will be based on situation and the wicket when I come to bowl, which side of the ground is bigger.”