Trisha Ghosal in Guwahati
The news that Arundhati Reddy has suffered a knee injury in India’s warm-up match against England has sent ripples through the Indian camp and for good reason. As a pace all-rounder who offers both seam options and lower-order hitting, her absence (even for a brief period) threatens to unravel the balance that the management has painstakingly built into this squad.
Why Reddy matters in India’s scheme
On paper, India’s pace attack is hardly overflowing with options. The squad includes Renuka Singh Thakur and Kranti Gaud as specialist seamers, with Amanjot Kaur as the pace-bowling all-rounder. But Amanjot herself is only just returning from injury and did not feature in the warm-up against England. That means she enters the tournament without any recent match time, a risk in a format that demands both rhythm and confidence.
Reddy, when fit, provides that crucial third seam option and brings flexibility: she can be rotated in spells, used effectively in the middle overs, or provide a different angle to the attack. Her ability with the bat, though not her primary strength, adds another dimension in tight matches, those few lower-order runs often shift momentum.
Without her, India may lose that cushion of balance. If Reddy is sidelined, the management faces tough trade-offs: either persist with a two-pronged pace attack (risking overwork and predictability) or turn to Amanjot before she has found her feet again, which could in turn compromise both bowling rhythm and all-round depth.
The domino effect on selection and roles
Consider the likely scenarios:
- Reduced rotation among pacers. Without Reddy, Renuka and Kranti will shoulder heavier workloads. In a long tournament, that raises fatigue and injury risks, while also allowing opponents to target specific bowlers.
- Increased reliance on spin or part-time seam. This could push India towards deploying more spin or banking on batting-all-rounders in stop-gap seam roles, altering the attack’s rhythm. On seaming tracks, that may be a tactical setback.
- Amanjot’s comeback under spotlight. Thrusting Amanjot straight into a high-pressure World Cup without competitive overs behind her is a gamble. If she struggles for rhythm, India may still need to fall back on standby options.
- Backup seamers under pressure. The reserves include Sayali Satghare (stand-by seamer), while Prema Rawat and Priya Mishra offer more spin-all-round options. If Satghare is forced into the XI, she must deliver intensity and control immediately, no easy task on this stage.
- Batting depth compromised. A backup seamer may come at the cost of an extra batter or spinner, leaving the lower order exposed.
Balancing risk and reward in a World Cup context
Tournament cricket demands flexibility. A squad with four to five seamers allows for tactical shifts, workload management and insurance against injuries. Losing Reddy narrows those options, while Amanjot’s lack of match practice adds another layer of uncertainty. In tight group matches, selection dilemmas will become magnified. Should India go with two seamers and four spinners? Or gamble on a 3-2 split with Amanjot still finding her feet?
If Reddy’s injury lingers or rules her out, and Amanjot is not yet at full intensity, India will be forced to recalibrate their ideal XI, reshape strategies and perhaps temper expectations on maintaining momentum across the tournament. The silver lining is that the squad already has a decent mix of options; the real test will be whether returning players and back-ups can meet the uncompromising demands of the world’s biggest stage.
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