India has definitely dominated the white-ball format, as evidenced by their T20 World Cup victory. Now, we see them thrashing Bangladesh in all facets of the game. The evolution of T20 cricket, particularly in India, deserves significant credit.
A key factor is the mindset of Indian players, like Nitish Reddy, Abhishek Sharma, and Rinku Singh. One element that stands out about these players is their fearlessness. They aren’t afraid, and this confidence shouldn’t be confused with overconfidence. They are assured in their abilities, especially in batting.
Having played in the Indian Premier League (IPL), which is almost as competitive as international cricket, they have faced high-quality bowlers and challenging situations—like chasing scores of over 200 runs or playing under pressure with few wickets in hand.
This environment shapes their psyche, and the game evolves with them, or rather, within them. As a result, they have dominated Bangladesh with a relentless approach.
Indian players never let their foot off the pedal. They’re always pushing ahead in the game. Even against top-quality deliveries, they manage to get singles or doubles. When analyzing the entire T20 series against Bangladesh, almost no bad ball from the opposition went unpunished.
Only in the early overs might there have been a couple of let-offs, but for the most part, the Indian batters capitalized on every opportunity. This approach puts immense scoreboard pressure on the opposition. When a team’s good balls are scored off and their bad deliveries are punished harshly, it becomes more of a psychological battle than just a physical contest on the field.
The opposition is constantly under pressure, struggling to find a way out of their difficult situation. Even after taking a wicket, the next Indian batter quickly gets settled, often within two or three balls, and starts increasing the run rate. For example, if a delivery is outside off-stump, it’s likely to be dispatched for four. This kind of relentless cricket leaves the opposition breathless.
On the bowling side, Indian pacers in the power play don’t focus on showcasing their swing or pace. Instead, they encourage batters to play shots, especially unconventional ones.
Bowlers like Rajdeep Singh aim to bowl wicket-to-wicket, creating opportunities for top edges or inside edges, increasing the chances of getting wickets. It’s all part of a psychological game, and since winning the T20 World Cup, India has established itself as the best T20 team in the world.
This confidence, coupled with the transition from veterans like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to a new generation of players, makes India look even more formidable. So far, the results have been excellent.
However, there is eager anticipation to see how this Indian team performs against stronger sides like Australia, England, and South Africa. In previous years, India has toured England, Australia, and New Zealand, winning T20I series with relative ease. Now, they’ll look to continue that dominance on foreign soil.