Young Indian batters must learn to pace innings in one-day format, feels Pragyan Ojha | Cricket News

MUMBAI: Former Indian spinner Pragyan Ojha has emphasised the importance of young Indian batters learning to pace their innings effectively, especially during the team’s experimentation phase leading up to the ODI World Cup to be held in India.

In the first ODI against the West Indies, India managed to chase down a moderate target of 114 but lost five wickets in the process.

However, in the second ODI, India put up a below-par effort with the bat, leading to an unexpected loss with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli being rested for the game.

Ojha’s observation highlights the need for the young batters in the Indian team to understand the significance of building their innings patiently and responsibly, even during seemingly comfortable chases.
As the team is in the process of experimenting and trying out different combinations ahead of the ODI World Cup, it becomes crucial for the batters to showcase their adaptability and match awareness.
In limited-overs cricket, pacing the innings appropriately is essential to ensure that the team achieves the target comfortably and avoids unnecessary pressure or risks.

Learning to construct an inning in various match situations will not only benefit the individual batter but also strengthen the team’s overall performance as they prepare for the World Cup on home soil.

“It is very important to address a few things. The batters who are new should know how to pace their innings — that is the biggest challenge I see now,” Ojha told the media during an interaction organised by Jio Cinema.
“In 2011, India had players who knew exactly how to pace their innings and what their roles were. But because of so many injuries and changes, this is a different challenge which the Indian team is facing right now,” Ojha added.
Ojha, who played 24 Tests, 18 ODIs and six T20Is for India, said the unavailability of some key players like Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul could hamper the team’s preparation for the World Cup.
“When you talk about 2011, most of them had played 70-80 odd games. (But) every time it will not be easy to have all senior players available. That is the reason why India is facing different challenges,” he said.
Ojha praised Kuldeep Yadav for having clarity in mind and working on his strength as a spin bowler, and added that Indian spinners could play a vital role in the World Cup.
“When you look at the guys like Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel or maybe Yuzvendra Chahal, you have got two all-rounders and two quality spinners.
“They have enough experience to exploit the conditions in India on the home soil, and they know what is to be done on these kind of pitches,” he added.
(With PTI inputs)