‘It’s not much of an issue’ - Tim Southee on India's struggle against left-arm quicks

Indian top-order batters have struggled a lot against left-arm seamers in the recent past. In 2016 and 2017, Mohammad Amir rattled India’s batting unit in the 2016 Asia Cup and in the 2017 Champions Trophy, while in 2019, New Zealand pacers absolutely demolished India’s top order in the World Cup semi-final. The same repeated in the 2021 T20 World Cup when Shaheen Shah Afridi annihilated India’s batting, helping Pakistan win by ten wickets.

Even so, current New Zealand star Tim Southee believes there’s nothing to worry about now. He added saying that India have world-class players, who know how to tackle Shaheen Afridi and Trent Boult, and hence, he expects India to have a proper game plan against them in the upcoming ODI World Cup.

“I don’t know what it is, but it was always handy to have a left-armer — something probably people don’t face a lot of. Those two guys that you mentioned, Shaheen Shah and Trent Boult, are quality bowlers and have caused a lot of players headaches over the years.

“I do not think it is too much of an issue. I’m sure the Indian players — world-class players — will have solid game plans to whoever bowler they come up against,” Southee was quoted as saying by OneCricket. 

India gear up for Asia Cup

Ahead of the ODI World Cup, the Rohit Sharma-led side will play in the continental tournament, where they can test themselves. The team management has made a couple of bold decisions by picking Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav, who are yet to prove themselves in ODI cricket. Thus, Asia Cup will be a platform for the Men in Blue to test various things.

Regarding the spin department, the selection committee decided to drop Yuzvendra Chahal, and they have not named an off-spinner. Thus, it will be interesting to see India’s game plan in the upcoming events.