The 2018 T20 World Cup is likely to include some high-scoring matches, particularly those contested in India. In the recent few seasons of the Indian Premier League (IPL), some massive totals have not only been scored in the first innings, but also chased.
Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri identified India and Australia as the two teams capable to breaking the 300-run barrier in the tenth edition of the premier event.
“I think Australia, India look as the teams to pass that 300-run mark. These are the two teams I would pick as the frontrunners to get this because of the kind of players both have. Very explosive, esepcially at the top and if one guy gets 100 at the top, then you’re close to that 300,” Shastri told Sanjana Ganesan on the ICC Review.
Shockingly, the highest total in T20 World Cup ever is 260 which was notched by Sri Lanka in the first edition of the event against Kenya at Johannesburg in 2007. India’s highest team total (218) is also against England in the same edition. Australia’s highest score, meanwhile, is 201.
Ravi Shastri opens up on unseen pressure of defending a title at home
Shastri is of the opinion that Suryakumar Yadav and his men will be under pressure as they will defend the title at home. The fact they’ve put themselves under so much pressure, grouping stages will count- that is the general belief of one of former India’s most successful all-rounder.
“When you’re defending your title and when you’re playing at home, there is pressure and it comes from nowhere. You have a bad 15 minutes, a bad 10 minutes in a T20 game, it can decide the outcome of the game. And often, you lose those 10 minutes or 15 minutes because of pressure. So, it’s how India handles that pressure, the way they start the tournament. If they start well, even if there is a hiccup on the way, they have got depth in batting to pull them out of it.”
Ravi Shastri
India is placed in Group A, alongside Pakistan, Namibia, the Netherlands, and the United States. They will open their campaign on February 7 against the United States at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
