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29 March 2024

Super 8s: Will India opt for spin over Sehwag against Australia?

Published

India meet Australia for their first Super 8 match in the ongoing World Twenty20 on Friday. Dhoni has already told the media that the Indian team is facing the problem of plenty.

And in the upcoming match, Dhoni has to take one of the toughest decisions of his career - whether he should play five bowlers at the cost of leaving the explosive Virender Sehwag out.

Greg Chappell, who once coached India and did not share the best of relations with the hard-hitting Indian opener, mentioned in a column:

"If Dhoni and the selectors have decided that enough is enough and that they have a better chance of winning the World Twenty20 without him (Sehwag), I reckon the Australian bowlers will breathe a little
easier on Friday."

While playing 5 bowlers comes with its own set of advantages, but not playing Sehwag will certainly give the Australians an edge. If one looks at the previous World Twenty20 scorecards, one will notice that Sehwag played this tournament only once before - and India won the tournament in 2007. It was Sehwag and Gambhir who gave the Indians the dream opening throughout the tournament.

India's performance in the following editions of World Twenty20 were dismal to say the least and did not manage to win a single match in the Super Eights stage, in 2009 (England) as well as in 2010 (West
Indies).

Dhoni faces a tricky choice. But if he decides to let go of Sehwag, India will be down psychologically and Australia will receive a much-needed boost, before they even touch the ground.

Dhoni has been said to have the midas touch but if his gamble does not pay off this time round, he will receive the flak from all sides.

Indians can only hope that Dhoni's masterstroke pays off and the spin trio of Harbhajan Singh, Piyush Chawla and R Ashwin can cook up a storm like they did against England a few days ago.

So, don't trim your nails, you might need them before the 40 overs are bowled.