When India score less than 200 runs while batting first in T20I cricket, it becomes very difficult for them to defend the target in their home conditions.
India scoring less than 200 runs while batting first in home T20Is has not brought rich dividends. Since 2019, their tally in matches when they score less than 200 runs while batting first at home reads as follows: Lost LostLostLost Won Lost Lost.
As is evident, out of the seven T20I matches at home, when India have scored less than 200 runs, they have lost on six occasions and have managed to register only one victory. The case was very similar in the recently concluded 5-match series between India and England in Ahmedabad.
Such was the coincidence in the series that ViratKohli won just one toss out of 5. England won each of the remaining 4 tosses and decided to chase in all of those matches.
In the series opener against England, India tried to go too hard against the formidable pace of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood and paid the price. Having been reduced to 20-odd for 3 in the powerplay itself, India could never recover and could manage only 124 runs from their 20 overs. In reply, England chased down the total in 15.3 overs to win the match by 8 wickets.
In the second T20I, India got to chase after winning the toss and overhauled the target with ease. Chasing England's 165, the team got to the total from just 17.5 overs to register a comprehensive 7 wicket victory.
England won the toss again in the third T20 and put India in to bat first. The case was similar as that in the first T20I in this match as well as India, in a bid to go hammer and tongs, could only manage 156 runs from their 20 overs. England chased it down in 18.2 overs to win by 8 wickets.
In the fourth T20I, India were a bit better and began inching towards the 200 mark. They made 185 for 8 from their 20 overs. England fell just short of the target to lose by 8 runs.
In the final match of the series, India finally achieved what they were looking to do all throughout. They made 224 for two with Rohit Sharma and ViratKohli opening the batting for India and setting a solid platform. The score was too much for even England's power packed batting line up as they could only manage 188 and lost by 36 runs.
