From March 2021 till the loss to New Zealand in the T20 World Cup, India had to bat first in nine games while they chased only three times in the same time frame. There were six losses in those nine attempts batting first, with India also losing the toss on eight of those occasions. With the toss factor playing a major role in the T20 World Cup where India lost their opening two games which effectively shut the door on their further progress, they needed to readdress their methods.

The three times that India had won in that timeframe batting first, they had posted totals north of 160 - 185/8 and 224/2 were their winning totals against England while they finished with 164/5 in their lone win in the T20I series against Sri Lanka last year. But in the aforementioned six losses, they had posted 150-plus only twice, with 156 being their highest score. In their losses to Pakistan and New Zealand in October, India ended up with 151 and 110, while they had posted 124 and 156 in their losses to England earlier in 2021.

In all these games, they lost at least two wickets in the powerplay and by the time the 15th over was completed, they had lost four or more wickets and weren't able to finish their innings as well as they would have liked. India's progression through the Powerplay, Middle Overs and the Death in the losses wasn't something to boast about and their conservative approach made matters worse for them as they ended up having their feet in two boats. "To be brutal upfront, I don't think we were brave enough," quipped Virat Kohli after the loss to New Zealand in the World Cup.

India's totals break-up in losses while batting first since 2021

Since that loss, India have enjoyed a streak of 10 successive victories in the T20I format and the win against Sri Lanka on Thursday (February 24) was also their fifth win while having the first go with the bat. Starting with the game against Afghanistan in the multi-team event till the opening T20I against Sri Lanka, India have finished with 180-plus in all their attempts to set totals, which has been possible thanks to their intent-filled approach.

India's totals break-up in wins while batting first since 2021

While Rohit Sharma, the all-formats captain for India, has been setting good platforms, the finishing abilities of Suryakumar Yadav and Venkatesh Iyer have also been crucial in India's successes. Against Sri Lanka, it was the turn of Ishan Kishan to provide a fiery start. Despite his recent struggles, Kishan justified the faith put in him by the team management, scoring a 56-ball 89, while Shreyas Iyer ensured that the start materialised into a sizeable total.

India's top-five batters in wins batting first - since 2021

Speaking at the online press conference following his career-best performance in T20Is, Kishan said: "The meetings were obviously about this, that we have been very predictable in the games. When we have played against big teams we have been a bit predictable taking care of our wickets, thinking much about keeping wickets in hand and then slogging in the second half of the innings. But right now it's (our approach) so simple. All of us are so talented, we have shots in our pockets, the captain and coach believe in us, like what we have done in the IPL and important matches.

"We just have to go there and play our game, if the ball is there then we need to go for it rather than taking a single and waiting for the bowler to come. The plan is just simple. It's nothing like you have to take chances on a very good ball. But at this platform I think it's very important that you have to move towards the ball, you have to step out, keep the bowler thinking. So that's the important thing what we are focusing on - rather than standing at one place and batting, we need to keep moving and put the bowler under pressure," explained Kishan, emphasising on the need to take the initiative rather than being conservative.

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In their past losses, India had also not fared all that well with the ball, with the lack of scoreboard pressure compounding their problems. With the exception of the series in Sri Lanka, India struggled with ball whenever they finished under 160. Until the game against Afghanistan, India had not picked up more than a wicket in the powerplays, while the victory margins for the oppositions were rather comfortable.

India, who have been unbeaten in chases since 2021, have picked up 37 wickets in six matches, a touch over six wickets per game. In contrast, in the nine games that they batted first before the match against Afghanistan, they managed only 31 wickets, which is less than 3.5 wickets per game. That number comes down further in the losses that they've suffered after batting first, averaging only 2.5 wickets.

India's bowling break-up in losses while batting first

But things have improved on the bowling front too, which has a lot to do with the luxury of runs provided by the batters in their last five attempts batting first. India are averaging two wickets with the ball in the powerplay in their last five bat-first games, and have an average of seven wickets per game, a clear upward trajectory compared to the earlier numbers.

India's bowling break-up in their last five wins while batting first

Bhuvneshwar Kumar's has been India's leading wicket-taker in T20Is in which India have won the game after batting first. Harshal Patel too has impressed while the emergence of Venkatesh has provided the bowling department, which has often struggled for a sixth bowler, an additional option.

India's top-five bowlers in wins batting first - since 2021

The quality of the oppositions' batting and bowling line-ups that India have faced recently may not match up to some of the bigger cricketing nations. But India's build-up towards the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia has been purposeful, and the results are evident. Even if it comes to setting totals, India's approach has had a marked difference compared to the recent past and they'll be hoping the rise of the tide continues.