‘Extremely critical’: Former India coach pins hopes on Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakaravarthy

As India brace for a knockout Super 8 showdown against the West Indies in Kolkata, former batting coach Sanjay Bangar has underlined the need for discipline with the ball against a Caribbean side known for fearless strokeplay.

The contest revives memories of their 2016 T20 World Cup semi-final meeting in Mumbai and carries similar high stakes. Analysing the challenge on JioHotstar, Bangar pointed to the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket and the attacking mindset of West Indies batters.

“In T20 cricket, you have to be open to getting hit because batters will come hard at you. There are times when they may get off to a rollicking start and could be 60 without loss.

But with that aggressive style and focus on boundaries, they can quickly slip to 84 for 4 as well, within the space of 20-odd runs. “

India will look towards experienced campaigners such as Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakaravarthy to curb the power-hitting threat and seize momentum through timely breakthroughs. Bangar emphasised that clarity in execution would be decisive.

“That’s why I believe the Indian team should stick to their bowling plans and make smart use of their wicket-taking options.

The use of Varun Chakaravarthy and Jasprit Bumrah against them is going to be extremely critical,” Bangar added.

He also offered technical advice for Chakaravarthy, who has seen a slight dip in returns during the Super 8 phase, particularly after his spell against Zimbabwe.

“I thought he was slightly short against the Zimbabwe batters. The majority of his deliveries were back of a length, and many of the boundaries scored came from that area. So, I think it would be better for him to push the ball slightly fuller and try to hit the stumps. That has been one of Varun Chakaravarthy’s strengths; if the batsman misses, he is either trapped leg before wicket or bowled.”

Bangar further broke down how Chakaravarthy could counter the in-form Shimron Hetmyer.

“Hetmyer looks to target long-on or the mid-wicket region, with a large share of his runs coming in that region. So, bowling those googlies from off-stump to the fourth-stump line, slightly wider outside off, would mean that if he tries to go across the line, there is always a wicket-taking opportunity for Varun Chakaravarthy,” Bangar added.

Hetmyer has been West Indies’ standout performer, amassing 221 runs in six innings at an average of 44.20 and a strike rate of 182.64, including two half-centuries. Meanwhile, Chakaravarthy remains India’s leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 11 scalps at an average of just over 13, despite a quieter Super 8 stretch.

With a semi-final place at stake, India’s ability to blend patience with precision in their bowling plans could define the outcome of this high-pressure encounter.