While the tactic of physical intimidation works in the majority of sports, chess is an exception. In fact, it is a running joke in the ancient board game community that an Indian kid sitting across the table is the worst nightmare. Consider it over if the prodigy proceeds to roll up their sleeves. Bishop, knight, queen, all swallowed in quick succession thanks to an inch-perfect strategy. You witness the clearance in abject horror, questioning not only your moves but also your life choices. A poor tactical decision at some point has unfurled a chain reaction that has hung you out to dry at the doorstep of defeat. It is coming, inevitably, and the rout will be as much your own doing as it was the future grandmaster’s brilliance.
Mired in the soul-crushing agony of defeat, it is tempting to take the easy way out. Doff your hat to the heroics you were at the receiving end of and avoid introspection. Amritsar Soormas find themselves in the same boat, having lost a couple of early fixtures in Sher-e-Punjab T20 league despite posting totals in excess of 250. Sure, Anmolpreet and Prabhsimran Singh played a blinder of a knock each to make light work of the pursuits, but on their part Amritsar Soormas have committed schoolboy errors to expedite the downfall. First and foremost, captain Abhishek Sharma is bowling in the PowerPlay to the detriment of his team. He leaked 49 runs in his full quota against Jalandhar Warriors after conceding three sixes in an over versus Mohali Kings.
For every over part-timer Abhishek delivers a left-arm orthodox who trains year round in search of this exact opportunity misses out. The state-owned franchise events are advancement avenues for young talent. Performances over there, which catch the fancy of a scout, can change lives overnight. Ritik Tada, an all-rounder from Madhya Pradesh, boarded a plane to South Africa recently as Mumbai Indians inducted him into their development program. By misusing captaincy to frontload himself into the attack, Abhishek is not only wasting the new ball that a seamer can use to his advantage but also sending the wrong message across the ecosystem that if you wield enough influence as a cricketer you can get away with selfish, counterproductive methods.
His utter disregard of the match situation came at a juncture where missteps had already become the order of the day. Both Abhishek and Sahaj Dhawan were in red-hot form yet Sukhdeep Bajwa was able to contain them upfront, with the dot-ball pressure leading to the dismissal of the latter. Amritsar Soormas have an interesting squad, clearly compartmentalised between batters and bowlers in an era that prioritizes multi-dimensional players. They have solid firepower up until number six before an elongated tail appears, provoking the thought that if the bowling team can somehow get past the specialists operating at the back end of the innings is a cakewalk.
Mohali Kings bundled Amritsar Soormas out for 258 despite an ominous scoreline of 181/2 in 11 overs. Instead of relying on the on-song Bajwa to produce breakthroughs in the middle overs, Jalandhar Warriors entrusted medium pacer Abhinav Sharma with a containing job. He lacked the venom to put a heavyweight like Naman Dhir under the pump, laying roses in his path towards a century with an over featuring five sixes.
The absence of Bajwa in what was a consolidation phase for Amritsar Soormas stung more due to a selection blunder. In the previous tie for the franchise, leg-spinner Tejpreet Singh had applied brakes on the juggernaut with his three-wicket haul, including the prized scalp of Naman three shy of a fifty. Jalandhar Warriors had in their ranks a leggie, Subinay Mahajan, but he remained on the bench in the afterglow of Tejpreet’s wizardry. The spate of top edges that he eked out of the Amritsar Soormas’ middle-order, rather strangely, didn’t quite spur a lightbulb moment in Jalandhar Warriors’ camp. This is the first auction-driven season in the history of Punjab’s homegrown T20 competitions, hence a lack of knowhow around squad as well as playing eleven construction is expected, yet on the flip side the involvement of a top-flight cricketer such as Prabhsimran should address the gaps in planning acumen.
The skipper, who boasts of 201 runs in two matches, was involved in robust partnerships with Anmol Malhotra and Harjas Singh Tandon, who did not bowl a single over in the first half as an off-break holding plenty of promise. There were three left-handers among the recognized batters and the fixture was the eventual in a series of five matches occurring on the same track. A prospect of turn, positive match-ups, and proven pedigree behind him were apparently not enough to convince Amritsar Soormas to throw the ball to Harjas even as wristspinner Shubham Rana presented live evidence of the efficacy of slower bowlers. In his initial three overs, Jalandhar Warriors managed 24/1.
Zooming out, it is safe to say that the error-strewn affair wasn’t an accurate reflection of a state that shrugged the tag of perennial bridesmaids by clinching the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2023-24. All twelve members engaged in the summit clash – Impact Player rule was active at that stage – flaunted an IPL contract. However, in the grander scheme of things, the talent pool is still coming to terms with the different dynamics of the format under lights. Video analysis, permutations and combinations, dew factor, horses for courses approach and the ability to execute while adapting swiftly to the conditions – T20 cricket is decided as much on the field as off it.
Of course, the tweaks aren’t always straightforward in nature. For example, in order to take a punt on Mahajan either of Rajasthan Royals fame Emanjot Chahal or utility man Abhinav would’ve had to create room. Although daredevilry, an inescapable trait of the modern game, ought to be exercised when the argument is relatively rational to begin with. It is a separate matter altogether that common sense wasn’t the overarching theme of the night.
One thought on “A comedy of tactical errors in Punjab”
Nice detailed review of the Sher e Punjab T20. Gives us some idea who is doing what in the off season from the regular run of the mill international cricket . So many leagues mushrooming hard to keep track . Good for white glove 🧤.