India captain Suryakumar Yadav (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki) Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan, who is part of the ICC World T20-winning squad, has urged the Men in Blue to prioritize winning the upcoming T20 World Cup matches rather than worrying about net run calculations ahead of the crucial clash with Zimbabwe. Pathan also suggested that captain Suryakumar Yadav could bat at number three to provide balance to the left-hander-dominated top order.India’s title defense has entered a tense phase. After a record-breaking 76-run win over South Africa – the defending champions now face a tough road ahead. They must rely on South Africa to remain unbeaten while securing wins against Zimbabwe and the West Indies to keep their tournament hopes alive.
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If this scenario falters, the net run-rate could decide India’s fate. With West Indies boasting a net-run-rate of over +5 and South Africa over +3, a negative net-run-rate for India is highly unlikely to catch up. Even a single slip by the Proteas could end India’s campaign.Speaking to JioStar’s Follow the Blues, Pathan said, “I really hope that the approach of playing for net run rate doesn’t come into play at the start of the game. The priority should be to win the game first. So perform well and try to win. Only then should you think about the run rate. If you start thinking about chasing the net run rate in, say, the West Indies, it means beating the teams in the West It is almost impossible for India and Zimbabwe to score 100 runs, which is not easy in T20 cricket, so I sincerely hope that when the Indian team plays these two matches, the main focus will be on us winning first.India’s top order was heavily dominated by the left arm, led by Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma. While Ishan showed flashes of form, Abhishek struggled, scoring just 15 runs in four innings, including three ducks. Tilak has 107 runs in five innings but a strike rate of just over 118, falling short of India’s usual explosive T20 style. Both Abhishek and Ishan struggled against off-spin.Pathan also explained the cautious approach of Yadav, whose strike rate in the mid-130s reflects a lack of reliable support at the top. Still, he believes moving the skipper to number three could provide balance and reduce the left-hander’s dominance.“I think Surya can bat at number three. From the team’s point of view, I understand the conservative approach, especially because Abhishek got out early. In the last match, Ishan Kishan got in the first over. You don’t want to expose Suryakumar Yadav at number three when he is so effective in the middle overs, he will hit 160. So I will spoil him when I think about the new delivery. He still has to consider batting Suryakumar Yadav at number three place to break the monotony of having three lefties up top.’
