India look to raise the game in high altitude

India not adhering to any particular batting order in T20 is a foregone conclusion now.

- Somshuvra Laha

So much so that there is no point really debating the merits or downsides of promoting Axar Patel to No.3 in the second T20I.It had to happen one day, and Patel scoring 21 off 21 balls in a match India eventually lost by 51 runs can be put down to coincidence. Flexibility being the intent here, expect India to usher in more such changes. That's at least what Tilak Varma indicated ahead of the third T20I in Dharamsala.

"Everyone is flexible except the openers," Varma said on Saturday. "I am up for batting at 3, 4, 5 or 6wherever the team prefers. If the team feels a particular move is tactically best, everyone goes with the team." Peel back the results and the underlying stats and this elaborate and complicated exercise is to prepare the lineup for any eventuality, any scenario. Patel has always been considered a floating allrounder, coming anywhere between Nos.5 and 8. Thursday was the first time Patel batted at No.3 in international cricket, his third outing overall if IPL too is considered.