Former India cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu stressed on the importance of strike rates in T20 cricket, stating that only players who score at least two runs per ball should be considered game-changers.
Sidhu’s comments come amid discussions on strike rates during the IPL and the ongoing T20 World Cup.
“Game-changers are those who can score 2 runs per ball,” Sidhu remarked on 'Star Sports Press Room.'
He maintained that achieving a high strike rate is crucial, heaping praises on players who can score at 2.5 or even 3 runs per ball.
According to Sidhu, these players make a significant impact on the game, particularly in the final overs.
"Strike rates of 1.5 or 1.7 are good, but players scoring 2.5 or 3 runs per ball are the real game-changers. Imagine someone scoring 35 runs in 10 balls; that’s game-changing quality," he explained.
Sidhu added that such performances could significantly bolster players like Virat Kohli.
In the current Indian team, Sidhu identified Shivam Dube and Axar Patel as potential game-changers. He praised their ability to maintain high strike rates, drawing parallels to the legendary finisher MS Dhoni.
"Why is Dhoni such a great finisher? Because his strike rate is sometimes 2.5 or even 4 runs per ball. This is the game-changing effect in T20 cricket. It’s a different skill altogether, the skill to clear the ground," he said.
Sidhu also weighed in on the much-anticipated India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash on Sunday.
He expressed his preference for a Rohit Sharma-Yashasvi Jaiswal opening combination but acknowledged the logic behind the current pairing of Virat Kohli with skipper Rohit Sharma. This combination, he noted, allows players like Dube and Axar to get more opportunities.
"They changed the combination to ensure the right balance, where Axar is batting at number 8. This is especially important on pitches where bowlers have an advantage," Sidhu noted.
He explained that the strategy would be different if the tournament were in the West Indies, where a different batting lineup might be preferable.
"You can't expect 200 runs on this pitch. Scores of 130 or 140 runs are more realistic, and this combination will work well under these conditions," Sidhu concluded.
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