Team India skipper Rohit Sharma opened up about India’s new approach with the bat following the impressive win over England in the first T20I in Southampton.

Team India, on Thursday, thrashed England by 50 runs in the first T20I to take the lead in the three-match series. Batting first, the Men in Blue scored 198 for 8 in the stipulated 20 overs. Hardik Pandya top-scored for the visitors, scoring 51 off 33 balls with the help of 6 fours and 1 six.

Rohit Sharma (24), Deepak Hooda (33) and Suryakumar Yadav (39) also played crucial knocks to lay the foundation for the big total. For England, Moeen Ali and Chris Jordan picked up two wickets apiece.

Team India put up a good show with the ball too and bowled out England for 148 in 19.3 overs. The bowlers kept taking wickets at regular intervals to make sure England never got the impetus for the chase.

England had lost 4 wickets for just 33 runs in 6.1 overs and never managed to recover from that. A 61-run stand between Moeen and Harry Brook gave them slim hopes but Yuzvendra Chahal dismissed both of them in the 13th over to all but seal the match.

Rohit Sharma on Team India’s new approach:

Following the game, India skipper Rohit Sharma spoke about the team’s new approach with the bat in the powerplay overs. Unlike in the past, India have been going all out in the first six overs.

On Thursday, the top-order batsmen went for the big shots right from the word go and the team was duly rewarded for it. By the time the powerplay ended, India had raced away to 66 runs. Rohit led the foundation by hitting five fours inside the first three overs before departing. His dismissal, however, did not change India’s plans as Hooda smashed Moeen Ali for back-to-back sixes to make the team’s plans clear.

Speaking at the end of the game, Rohit said that the team wants to be aggressive in the first six overs. Rohit further said that his teammates need to understand the team’s approach and play accordingly.

“You got to make use of those six overs in the powerplay. There is a certain approach we want to take in the powerplay,” said Rohit.

“You got to back yourself in this game, sometimes it comes off, sometimes it doesn’t. The whole batting unit needs to understand the direction the team is taking and the guys were spot on today,” he added.

Team India have used this approach since returning to action after the IPL. During the series against South Africa at home, India’s powerplay scores were 51, 42, 48 and 40. India were aggressive against Ireland too, scoring 69 and 54 in the powerplay. With the T20 World Cup not very far away, the team-management would be hoping that the batsmen continue to play in the same manner and keep delivering.

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