The upcoming T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the US throws a big question mark at India’s batting line-up – who will be the finisher, the player who takes the team over the line in high-pressure situations?
Dinesh Karthik’s Role and the Search for a New Finisher
In the 2022 World Cup, Dinesh Karthik was entrusted with the finisher’s role, and the batting order was built around him. However, with Karthik nearing the later stages of his career, the Indian team management is looking at other contenders for the crucial role.
The ideal finisher needs to be someone who can bat fearlessly in the final overs, chase down big targets, and handle the pressure of crunch moments. But here’s the challenge – most of the promising players in the reckoning are not getting regular exposure to finishing situations in their IPL franchises.
Hardik Pandya: Once a finisher, now struggling
Hardik Pandya was once India’s go-to finisher, known for his brutal power-hitting in the death overs. He could effortlessly clear boundaries and showcased his skills in a memorable match against Australia in 2020, chasing down a target with ease. However, his performance as a finisher has dipped in recent times. Playing for different teams (Gujarat Titans and currently Mumbai Indians) has seen him bat higher up the order, taking away opportunities to practice finishing under pressure. This season, in high-pressure chases against Gujarat Titans, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Chennai Super Kings, he hasn’t been able to deliver.
Shivam Dube: Explosive but Inconsistent
Shivam Dube, with his powerful swing similar to Yuvraj Singh, has been in top form for Chennai Super Kings this season. He strikes the ball cleanly and has the ability to dominate spin bowlers. However, his ability to handle high-paced bowling has been a question mark. While he showed promise against Royal Challengers Bangalore, he succumbed to pressure in a crucial chase against Delhi Capitals.
Rinku Singh: The Find of 2023 but IPL blues in 2024
Rinku Singh’s heroics last season for Kolkata Knight Riders, where he smashed five sixes against Gujarat Titans and won them a seemingly impossible match, made him a contender for the finisher’s role in the national team. He impressed with his composure under pressure and his ability to clear boundaries against both pace and spin bowlers. However, this season hasn’t been kind to him. With Kolkata Knight Riders performing well at the top order, there haven’t been many opportunities for him. Even in situations where he was needed, Andre Russell’s return to form has pushed him down the order.
Wicket-keeper Finishers: A Gamble?
Similar to the 2022 World Cup, India’s top order is packed with big names who don’t keep wickets. This means the wicket-keeper chosen will likely need to possess finishing skills as well.
- Ishan Kishan: The explosive left-hander is a handy wicket-keeper but hasn’t had much experience as a finisher for his franchise (Mumbai Indians) or the national team. Selecting him for this role would be a risky gamble.
- Sanju Samson: The Rajasthan Royals skipper has been inconsistent when not batting at number 3. While he has the talent, his struggles batting at other positions raise doubts about his ability to finish consistently.
- Rishabh Pant: The swashbuckling Delhi Capitals captain is known for his audacious strokeplay. He usually bats at number 4 or 5 for his franchise and could be a good option for the finisher’s role in the World Cup.
- Jitesh Sharma: The Punjab Kings wicket-keeper impressed with his finishing skills last season and has been part of the Indian team recently. However, his performance for India has been underwhelming, and his current IPL season hasn’t been much better.
With the T20 World Cup approaching, the Indian Cricket Team Management has a tough decision to make. They need to pick a finisher who can handle pressure, perform consistently, and ideally, gain experience in high-pressure situations leading up to the T20 World Cup. Whether they pick an established player like Rishabh Pant, gamble on a talent like Shivam Dube, or find a surprise solution remains to be seen.
