India were tested by the unorthodox spin of Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus, and that experience may prove timely as they prepare to face another unconventional operator in Pakistan’s Usman Tariq in their marquee T20 World Cup clash in Colombo on Sunday.
At their core, both Erasmus and Tariq are off-spinners, but what sets them apart are their unusual variations.
Erasmus mixed his trajectory cleverly, delivering several balls with a round-arm action and even operating from well behind the stumps, unsettling India’s star-studded batting line-up. He returned impressive figures of 4 for 20 in four overs, even as India piled up 209 for nine en route to a commanding win. Trusted with the tough death overs, Erasmus held his nerve and came out on top against some of the world’s best hitters.
Tariq presents a different kind of challenge. His distinctive pause before release has sparked debate over the legality of his action, adding intrigue to Sunday’s contest.
India had expected flat decks in this tournament, but surfaces in Mumbai and Delhi have already tested batters. The Colombo pitch is traditionally slower, which could once again bring spinners from both sides into the spotlight.
Ishan Kishan, one of India’s key contributors against Namibia, was asked whether facing Erasmus served as preparation for Tariq and Pakistan’s attack.
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“I think we’ve already done the preparation. Now it’s about watching the ball and playing our natural game. In T20 cricket, if the ball is there to hit, you go for it. We’re trying to put up a strong total and back our strengths,” Kishan said.
“At this level, we watch a few videos to understand what to expect. But we’re keeping it simple.”
He did admit, however, that unusual actions can momentarily affect a batter’s mindset.
“It might play in your head for a couple of balls. But you have to trust your strengths. Even if he’s trying something different, we can still hit boundaries or sixes. It’s about how we think in that moment.”
Namibia head coach Craig Williams was not surprised by Erasmus’ impact and lauded his captain’s preparation and temperament.
“He trains incredibly hard on all these variations and plays in leagues around the world. He bowls the tough overs regularly,” Williams said.
“Tonight, against a world-class side, he showed what he’s capable of. His execution was excellent. After conceding a six off the first ball of the 19th over, he pulled it back superbly. That was fantastic under pressure.”
