Successful IPL teams require balanced team composition with strong bowling units, effective batting partnerships, and tactical flexibility; teams like Sunrisers Hyderabad demonstrate how captaincy decisions and player experimentation can transform a team's performance, while teams like Punjab Kings struggle when their weakest areas (bowling) are exploited by opponents.
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How can the contenders consolidate their top-2 spot? Who has the outside chance? R Ashwin decodesAdded:
Right, let's talk tactics team by team because this is the pointy end of the season now and who better than the authority on tactics now Ashwin is here.
Come on Ash, good to have you back on ESPN.
>> Let's go team by team for just some of the key takeaways that you're picking up as well. I want to start with the Punjab Kings who were the team of the tournament in the first parts. Three defeats and suddenly what are we making of their choice of selections, their refusal to find a place for Harpit Bra who is a favorite on studio shows but never gets room in in the team. They're also swapping their overseas spaces around. What have you made of Punjab tactically?
>> Look, I think with Ricky Ponting at helm, uh the chances of you making massive tactical mistakes is pretty slim.
>> Uh to me, they stuck in a bit of a soup.
Um I I think getting into the season not just Ricky or Shre all of us knew their weakest suit was their bowling and uh for me it's not surprising that they're going at 200s and 220s every single game. They're probably highest on the economy rate. Uh but that said let's divide the teams a bit. Let's say for example Chennai is going at a very less economy rate. Well Punjab's going at a very high one but Chennai have played 3 4 160 games. That's going to really augment the whole uh economy rate and narrative that we are talking about. But with Punjab, I don't see bowling as much as a problem. They're going to continue to leak runs, but I think their batting is what is kind of just fallen a little bit. Uh because Shreas is walking in the last two, three games when he when they've been two down for literally nothing. So, uh >> the next two games are going to be very crucial for them. not from a result point of view but I think if PRAB and uh >> and Priange can get them off to a good start uh there are some very very glaring weaknesses there uh which teams would try and exploit and that's where the concern should be um if at all anything I would think Ricky should mull around the option of getting an extra bowler and pushing Cooper Connelly up to open the innings >> how would that play out let's go deeper into that >> you've got an option of uh bringing in Bra who can also bat a touch and it gives you a bit of variety uh left arm finger spin against right-handed batting oppositions. He can give you overs inside the power play. He's become very smart over the years. Uh the kid is very courageous. He will turn up and he will you know what you're going to get from him. The good and bad days are going to be pretty uh averaging out and he could form a a lethal partnership for Yuzi in many ways. Uh I know they've dropped a lot of catches, but in this day and age, dropping catches, you're not hiding away from the social media, right? It's hard.
Uh let's hope they put that to a rest.
And uh I do see them picking it up at the back half. Amatula Omar Zai is an option which I think they should seriously consider if they need something up up top with the new ball.
>> It seems like they were there. So they're quite heavily dependent on their openers which can be said about a lot of teams but Pri and Sim looks like teams are also coming with some interesting plans for Priyanka. That's a couple of wickets now to a short ball. Anything you're picking up? Look, I think uh any any problem which is you know beefing up during the tournament is surely addressable if the batter is prepared to do it. Uh like I say would you assume uh switches and small tactical changes to be technical because it's the purview of the batter how he is able to pick up small changes and make them during the game. For example, Sanju Samson batting against Kuli Padu he was able to make the difference between left leg in line closing off and opening it up. Uh that's a very small tactical change. It's not technical. Is Priyance going to be ready to you know move a touch in the crease?
He's he's a still batter. Yes.
>> Looking to you know hammer the ball over mid wicket against high pace that can be suicidal at times. And Joffra Archer has done it against him. Siraj has gone up against him. Then in the previous game again >> Pat Cumins >> Pat Cumins Pat Cumins is someone who's going to get the angle bounce everything right. He's an Aussie. Uh with all that is he willing to you know just probably get them off to a slightly solid start just swallow the ego a touch. let go of the ball or maybe hit that ball in different areas behind square maybe uh the bigger one is Prab Simran Singh in my view they're tucking him up >> balls are not falling inside the stumps Choffra Archer has chosen to hit him on the rib cage Kagisura has done that as well are teams going to do that the only question against Punjab kings are teams going to be smart enough to keep attacking them in that areas and be efficient at it uh if they are then Punjab will have to slightly shuffle around with the combination >> you remain you remain reasonably relaxed about Punjab's overall situation But their batting is where you want to keep a closer eye. They're bowling, you feel, even though they're leaking runs.
>> Look, they're playing, look, they're playing at Mulanur. Once they go back there, they're still going to continue.
>> They're going to Darham Shala now for three games.
>> Fair enough. The pitch, the pitch is pretty similar. The soil is pretty similar. Uh the old Mojali stadium, Daram Shala and Mulanur, the surface is the same. It's kids on. It slides on nicely. The bounce is just about ample.
It's not going to be the red soil bounce which is going to come near your chest.
And that's where they're used to playing the cricket. So, I'm not too fussed. As long as they can get Shrees in with a good start, they're still going to find ways to is batting well. So that's a positive.
>> There's the last thing I want to ask you. This we did we saw a graphic recently of Shreas coming in inside the first five overs versus outside or inside the first three overs. We're pulling it further now. But is there a vulnerability to Shre too early in a T20 innings?
>> Not really. It's the wrong way of looking at it. Uh I would think it's not so much Shre coming in that point of at that point of time. It's more of him coming in at 242. When you're coming in at 242, any batter is going to say, "Okay, I am a little apprehensive here.
Do I want to take it on? He's he's been batting beautifully, Ronak." And the last thing you want to be doing is double guessing your intent as a batter and come in there. Okay, let just let me just take my time. I I see a ball, I'm going to go through with it. Suddenly, you're the skipper. You're 242. You're thinking, "Okay, let me just knock it around for a bit." That's the difference that the bowler can cash in upon. So that's why I'm hopping on the fact that their openers get them off to a good start even if that means like I said swallowing a bit of the run rate. It's okay. I think they can catch up with Stone is batting so well and seriously considering Azatula Omar Zai who can swing the ball around both ways which could be a welcome change alongside Ashib Singh up top because Ashib has not had a great tournament so far.
>> All right, fair enough. Let's go to our next team and these were the two teams that played the last final. So let's go to RCB now after Punjab. At the time of recording, we're doing this just after Lucknau's spirited return to victory.
But does that leave us with a question on RCB who we were admiring as a squad having covered so many bases in a playing 12 and yet Roario Shepard had his opportunity and you know how things go in the IPL now suddenly your three losses in your last five. Is that a spot you'd look at in particular?
>> Are you asking me if it's a concern?
>> Is it?
>> No.
>> Okay.
>> Uh >> why not?
See look RCB have one issue which I think is Jesh Sharma's form.
>> Uh he wasn't he was an incumbent keeper bat for India and he's lost his place.
He's a renowned spin hitter. Uh he had to encounter the LSG's quick bowlers in the previous game. uh the entry point of Jesh Sharma is something that they are they don't have too many choices with because everybody in the top four scoring runs including Patidar and the reason I said no to you was because they were so far behind the game against LSG and yet they were so close from knocking that off >> they lost their openers they lost to Sharma they had Tim David who came in when they were four down I would say most teams 100 for4 chasing 13 14 and over would be reeling at that point of time and RCB us and they still found a way to get as close as they did and I'm thinking they're still a very good side.
Uh they've got options ran I think they can also mull around with the option if Salt is not going to be coming back.
>> Uh they've still got some options to beef up that pooling with maybe Duffy also coming in to supplement the SEM attack.
>> I I don't suggest they do that. Uh but they are sitting in a very very pretty place at this point of time. I think they will get through.
>> All right. Is there anything you'd like to sort you'd like Jitesh Sharma to address looking at his struggles right now? He >> just needs to buy his time. Uh for whatever it's worth, whoever you are, however good a player you are, whatever legacy you hold, there have been several finishers who've been very successful in the IPL. But when you're not in form, you're not in form. And uh the best way to get back to form is taking that few extra deliveries than you usually do.
had that had that opportunity if he had calculated a touch better knowing that it was enough spin coming his way he could have not played that shot and just I would say in T20 cricket in test matches it's about 40 balls 50 balls in T20 cricket five balls is still good amount of time >> just to gauge the conditions just to gauge the pace just to middle a couple of couple of balls and uh he's a fabulous player I I do think he's a very very good player just needs to find a way to you know spend a little bit more time in the middle >> so the overall pitch of RCB also you seem to say this is a strong team you don't really need to change too much as we get towards the last couple of games and I think they have Punjab and Sunrisers that could very well be the decisive games for top two or not top two let's assume they don't change much because RCB are a settled team but if you go down there and it's and you suffer another defeat on the way how close are you to saying even though we are a good team let's change it up is informed he can open we can have an Indian opener that will allow us to play maybe both Hazelwood and >> I was hinting at that I was hinting at that if you look at the inside part of RC CB, what do they be telling themselves? They won a title.
>> They're looking like a strong side.
They've done really well. They had a long break. And in the IPL, trust me when I say this. If you have a long break, coming back and losing is just par for the course. And if you've done that, it's just okay. To me, RCB are going to be telling themselves, we still a great shout to try and defend this title. Why really? Why really, you know, fix something that's not broken? Uh just go ahead with it. If you don't, you don't. And that happens in the IPL. Uh but as of now give yourself the best opportunity by not succumbing to pressure >> because they are a really really good side >> they can mull around the option of Jacob Duffy which I still hold because their batting is doing well.
>> You don't need the depth.
>> The the IPL is such a unique tournament in some ways. It's also so long. They've committed to their team year and now we're getting to the last few games. So you can understand if RCB backed their same players. Sunrisers started with defeats so they had to pull some uh some triggers and now they've got a bowling unit that seems to be firing. Let's talk about the Sunrisers Hyderabad. I want to just get your impressions of how they've transformed this almost rookie uh bowling unit in now you throw in Pat Cumins into perhaps one of their strengths. Before the tournament started, somebody asked me to pick the top four, right? And I picked three teams for certain. uh one of them have really really gone out of the window which is Mumbai. Uh but I did expect RCB to punch in for the last spot competing with two three teams which is exactly the scenario of the table. But what Sunrisers have managed to do is to of course with a bit of luck is be exciting about the way they played the game not just with the bat with the ball as well.
When I say exciting, what have they done? They brought in Rafulhing who's bowled up top, swung the ball a touch, first season, is prepared to go around the stumps and bowl the Yorkers, prepared to go behind the feet. And then you've got Saki Busin who's playing his first season. Scott the cutter who's got good yorkers prepared to execute it in a game >> because they must and I am almost certain have a dressing room atmosphere which is telling them go and express yourselves. We hear this from cricketers all the time, go and express yourselves.
But we don't. I've been in far too many dressing rooms to tell you it's just a word or a statement that's been made.
But when your captain Pat Cummins, who's got just about everything in his CV going right as a cricketer, as a bowler, as a captain, >> is willing to experiment going around the stumps and bowl short balls to Ankish raui. It's him walking the talk and telling all these guys, you're going to get hit in this format. Come along with me, express yourself. And that's giving them the result. Uh they are dominating their fortress which is their home ground. They won four out of the six lost boat day >> which I'm sure they can counter just probably have lesser expectations of their batting the next time they do bat.
Um they are the team to watch out for.
Uh I do think they're very dangerous.
The last time I was here in the studio I said a repeat of the final from last year. Uh I think SRH are going to give a real run for the money for most of these teams.
>> I guess my question is can this inexperience also have two good days in the playoffs? you know a lot it can work against you but this team let's let's look at what they've done I spoke about the young ones coming and experimenting and being you know very very brave about what they're doing but what it can do and what it has done to their team is they've told each other we are playing at a very tough venue for bowlers we are prepared to go for runs >> but we are prepared to bowl as a unit for the cost of the team >> how well have they blend in Ishan Malinga has three four varieties and you look at the way they play the game They don't give you the same balls again and again. They don't repeat the same deliveries and Ishan Malinga has got some variety. Shorter in stature. Pat Cummins is taller going changing angles.
Sake Usain's got different strengths. We can say they're a pack of fast bowlers but they are very unique and that's what is setting them apart.
>> Lovely. So the bowling you're impressed.
Could I ask you for a comment on just the improvement of Nitish Reddi as an all-around player as well from last season to this and what this could possibly mean for his stocks in the near future?
Look, they always say the second season is harder and it did prove to be the case with Nitishi last year. Uh where I did feel that ride or that probably joy, right, that he had in the first season extended into the second season where he can he thought he can see ball, hit ball and get away with it. But the game is such that people are going to come up with better plans. Uh but what I'm seeing of him this season's truly remarkable. Um with the ball, you can always say that he's gone away, worked on his speed, improved 10ks of speed.
Sure. I mean, within a T20 game to bowl at that pace for four overs at, you know, different stages of the game, you're literally bowling six in every stage, six balls in every stage of the game. So, uh, I would say it's a massive improvement, but batting is where I'm really, really impressed with what he's done.
>> Um, he's able to b his time. He's able to understand the game situations. He's forming a lethal combination with combination with class.
>> There is some firepower. You can say Aniketwarma, you can talk about Sali Lora, but there's a lot of inexperience.
But what they've done in Nitish and Classen is take almost every game to the death. They're seeing seeing that through hitting those vital boundaries.
They're still there. They know they can capitalize with the power they've got.
Uh what Nitish has done is truly a turnaround season for them and SRH must be mighty proud of that retention.
>> Do you see it as a conscious consolidation from last year when they used to go bust at times to this time like let's not go 260, let's try for the 220s that should be good. Is that a hard thing batters to try and hold back and then go? It sometimes doesn't work.
Class, I think got a reduced strike rate from last year, but the volume is high.
They're winning more games. What What are you picking up as to why this has been successful when it's quite challenging for batters to do that these days? It can be both ways. It could be a a talk or a conversation that the management has had or the coaching staff have had with these players while they're doing while they're netting or could well be a you know an internal decision made by these batters. And uh the reason I would say that is two two examples that I want to pick from Andre Clson.
>> Uh pulls a short slower ball into the surface in a day game. Gets caught at deep mid wicket. Spectacular catch by Robman Powell.
>> Yeah.
>> Uh but the same delivery in the next game. He's bunting it to short mid wicket for two runs. Uh so it's just the preparedness of Clson to say, "Hey, you know what? I know where you guys are attacking me. Let me not give my wicket away because that one big hit which he hit the next one uh if you remember against Bay Shack >> was that he got a short slow one tapped it for a couple waited for that and hit him for a big six.
In essence, they're playing smart cricket. Let's see, let's let me put it this way. Smarter cricket than what they did last year.
>> And that's paying off. Whether it's internally created or whether they've had chats over it, they are not the same exciting brand of sometimes at sometimes reckless bat batters they were last season.
>> They're much more smarter. Even Abhishek and Travis for that matter have decided chosen to take their time at times. So, uh, they're comp they're complimenting one another and if they are going to continue this combination, they could be a serious force at home at at their home.
>> Yeah, it looks like they've just shugged off the reputation of boom or bust. Even their bust is now keeping them in the game. It's not a blowout.
>> Yeah, not bad. They managed to take KKR deep in that game as well. So, yeah, why not?
>> Yeah, I think forget the afternoon games. They're done now with the afternoon games, which of course Pat said Travis head is still sleeping in those games. Smart cricket is what we associate with.
>> That's an interesting way of putting it.
Yeah, he said >> you're not asking for an excuse, but you're giving one without his kids over here. That's the only time he gets to sleep. So, let's go to the Gujarat Titans. They are a team associated with some smart cricket. I was very surprised to learn that Prasid Krishna, it looks like it was a tactical call that he wasn't hitting his lens. I think that's what Ashish Kapoor once said and therefore we wanted to work with him but he was your strike bowler leading wicket taker. Suddenly Arshad Khan and Jason Holder as a combination is proving to be more potent in this GT bowling lineup which is also otherwise quite strong.
Can you analyze that for us?
>> Look, I still think Prasid if I was there, Prasad would still make it to the side but I can see why they probably done that. Uh initially I was very surprised. Let's just take for the example the Chennai Super Kings game at Chepok.
>> Yes.
>> Uh if pro had played that game there's no way Chennai was getting to 150. uh because uh that that that particular pitch with that sort of bounce was just made for Prasad Krishna like you're saying uh I don't think he's missed his length. Prasad is a very creative bowler. He's looking to get ped. He's trying to bowl those slower ones. Maybe that's a role they don't want from him.
They want him to still bash away at the length. If you look at what GT have been doing and why Rabbata has been successful is whenever Rabat has played for South Africa, you see that funny little off cutter dragged down into the pitch or that funny little leg cutter that goes in that gets bashed for a six.
>> Those are wicked shopping deliveries.
But with GT over the last five games, it's been very clear he has been bowling some serious heat.
>> I think the communication is very clear.
Whatever you do, even if you go for 60, I want you to turn up and bowl real quick and into the pitch. That's Rabada's strength and I think they pretty much expect the same from Prasid as well >> and because he's not been able to do that and Jason's come in who's also very tall they said okay let's look for some variety and gone the way of Arshad Khan so I can see why they've done it but they've been very smart in the pitches they've played on Ronak this year uh >> you go to Mumbai play on the black soil surface from last year when Punjab comes a little bit more grass on the cracks with the ball seeming around sideways they've been quite smart I wouldn't say they've they're probably the best teams going around in this tournament but they've been very smart in utilizing their resources.
>> I'd like to believe it's a sure coincidence you know that you don't have any control over the pitches because Himangadani told us that in the Delhi game. So you get lucky sometimes.
>> Look, I think I think Himong has got a point. Uh you can't control the pitches uh that those days of the IPL. I mean for whatever it's worth, I think IPL should have an ability should have a window for these teams to be able to use their home conditions to the best possible way. not massive but even the smallest of advantages. If not >> there's no point of having a home and away contest at all. Um but on the other hand I think there is a element of the game which has gone out of the window which is understanding the pitch right and how do you understand a pitch? There's a lot of data available there is information available and there is a way because the curators will come and tell you at the start of the season that they're going to use three surfaces.
By the end of the third home game, you should have a fair understanding of which pitch behaves in which way and which pitch behaves how in April and how it does in May. So I think there needs to be a lot more awareness around it and if it's rain for two days, you don't win the toss in bat first. It's just as straightforward as it gets and I think Delhi have done things to make it very complicated for themselves.
>> Let's go deeper into that. They've decided to win tosses and bat first and been left regretting that decision.
Can you explain some of the tactics that they've made? Ah, >> where do I begin? And >> yeah, including the selection of leaving David Miller out. I don't know where you stand on that one as well.
>> Look, I think it's debatable the David Miller won. I know a lot of people are rooting for David Miller. It's just purely the combination. If Luni and Stark are available at the start of the season, I think you would have seen the same thing again. Maybe at the start of the season, it would have made it slightly easier for them to go with the Indian openers. But because they've been chasing results constantly, let's understand one thing. Pum Nasanka has done reasonably well for an overseas pro as a batter. I don't I don't think we've seen a lot of Sri Lankan pro batters come into the IPL.
>> He's come in, he's batted well against pace.
>> He's understanding how spin works in the IPL. He's trying to create options. Spin has been a bit of a an Achilles heel, but he's got them off to good decent starts.
>> The area where they've actually let down have been let down is the fact that they traded out Nitish Shana. They got him into the side, gave him didn't give him much of a window, left him out, then brought him back as an off spinner against SR >> and that's where I think things started to get really a little out of hand for them. I think uh not just that one. So when you when you're when you're missing your head and trying to catch the tail all the time, uh tail is not going to be easy to catch. However, how flexible you are, it's very hard. [snorts] >> Okay, last one. Chennai Super Kings who've also in some ways turned their season around. I didn't think at match 50, which is when we're recording this chat, that they would have been reasonably in a strong position to still make a playoff spot. What's the first thing that tells you, "Yep, well done.
I'm impressed by this CSK's team's turn around."
>> Just the rhythm of life, Ron.
>> Just how luck works. You make your own luck, but you also identify situations where you capitalize to earn that luck, right? And I've I've been in that in that dugout before where the rhythm of life just keeps turning and uh all you're telling yourself is just win this games and the rest will take care of itself. And that's how pretty much this points table is moving around this at this point of time. Uh but let's look a little deeper at what CSK have done.
They've gotten eight points out of the 10 against two teams which are MI and Delhi.
>> Mi have had a they've had a season to forget. Yes. and Delhi have had a season to >> to probably review for a long for a long time to come in the future and >> they they've been quite clinical in those games >> but that KKR when they were at the at their uh least best when they started the season is where they capitalized on other game and when I say rhythm of life or rhythm of luck >> they're going to play two games against LSG. Yes, >> let's not make the mistake of saying this ahead of time. LSG are no pushovers, but in case they beat LSG in both those games come 15th of May, I don't see a reason why Chennai won't qualify.
>> They finish with SRH and GT, but by then they would have already decent.
>> Doesn't matter if you get if you get >> they're on a roll then.
>> Well, the point is if they win by the 15th, they would have won four on the bounce, right? That's four on the bounce and there is no reason why they wouldn't win two more on the bounce.
>> Are they are they maximizing their resources or their tactics? Akilosen still seems to be a one game in one game out sort of play even though he seems impressive every time we see him and I think Rutu has said in the past we like to play around with the impact sub even I don't know if that's been put to rest with the way that they've been going now but they still try and put that extra batter on the bench sometimes if they inject that batter as early as the fourth over a cup of coffee before I answer that [laughter] >> and maybe Karthik Sharma's form will help them be comfortable with their resources but what have you picked up on whether they're maximizing their >> what what have I end up saying has to be so much in the air uh because some of those decision-m have been a little bizarre for me as well uh you don't you start this tournament with someone called Saras Khan who's not had a great IPL before he's had probably here and there with RCB then he turns up and looks like he's batting a million dollars and he's not even playing games after that uh and within the knowhow of what I've said I I did expect this to happen at some stage with Saras probably having to compromise on his position and I didn't think it would come to that. He could still be a very viable number three option. Um to me the team utilizing Akil Hussein has been kind of strange to understand but I can I can now eventually say with firmness that there is some uh theory behind it. So when they left him out of the SRH game, they are clearly we can we can say whatever we want. Form bowler, left arm spinner against left-hander, you can still back them. But the team's clearly telling everybody that we are not going to use a left arm spinner inside the power play >> if uh if they're going to be left-handers facing them inside the power play, right? Sure.
>> Which is why they leave out Akilus. The moment they found two right-handers in Delhi against Nisanka and KL Rahul, they play him. M >> whether they expected that wicket to turn or not is another question because Akil Akil's interview tells me that they expected it to slide on and the grip was something that he got out of the moisture that was available on the surface. So they're clear if they find the right matchup they will play him. If not, he's not going to play. I I'm ready to be surprised the next game because they're playing on a red soil pitch uh at Chennai where they will encounter Mitchell Marsh and probably Ashen Kulkarnney. Shouldn't be the case. uh if they do find two right-handers that are going to open the attack and uh it is it is on a red soil pitch will be interesting but come 15th May we'll have a certain answer whe the CSK is going to go all the way you think they will gut field with all your years of experience and wisdom the gut feel educated guess work but go for it you think they'll be there >> I doubt it >> I doubt it but I wouldn't put it past that >> all right Arashwin thank you so much for that this was perhaps the last report card that anyone who's watching this from inside the dugout can resort to to see if they can sort their team or not.
After this, there'll be no doubt.
>> These are all educated guesses. If if cricket is our education, these are all educated guesses.
>> I can only tell you one thing for sure which is not guesswork is a lot of the teams in the dugouts watch our show on ESPN cricket for >> glad to know.
>> So, and they they certainly watch Ashwins and now we put the two together.
This was our tactical report as we go past match 15 this year's IPL.
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