Wasim Jaffer says India must change approach on difficult pitches after Japan scare

Wasim Jaffer said India must adjust their batting approach on non-flat pitches after the side nearly lost to Japan in their first T20I meeting. India scored 32 for four in a rain-shortened five-over match before holding on to win by two runs.

Jaffer said Indian batters get stuck when the ball seams or turns and try to maintain the same strike rate and aggression regardless of conditions. He added that the close result against Japan would have been a major embarrassment had India lost.

The former India opener also urged curators to avoid rank turners at home. He said such pitches put pressure on batters who now play far more white-ball cricket and have less red-ball practice.