India still in search of ideal playing XI for T20 World Cup
India still in search of ideal playing XI for T20 World Cup: India has two months and a few series until the T20 World Cup, but significant ailments make the task difficult.
In a perfect world, Rohit Sharma, Rahul Dravid, and the fans would have finalised India’s 2022 T20 World Cup playing XI by now.
India’s main concern for the Australian competition is Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel’s ailments. Both bowlers aren’t chosen for the 2022 Asia Cup, which starts August 27 in the UAE. They’re in Bengaluru’s NCA.
Bumrah’s back issues shouldn’t affect his World Cup readiness. Harshal has a side issue and may miss Australia.
This year, India’s Virat Kohli and KL Rahul have played little. Kohli played four T20Is in 2022. He’ll play at the Asia Cup.
Rahul missed three months with a sports hernia and Covid-19. Before the World Cup, he must train.
IANS picks India’s 2022 T20 World Cup XI.
Batting:
Ishan Kishan didn’t make India’s Asia Cup squad. Therefore, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul will open.
Since the 2021 World Cup, Rahul has played few T20Is for India. Due to injury and Covid-19, he missed series against South Africa, England, Ireland, and West Indies.
Right-hander strikes out slowly. India under new skipper Rohit Sharma have changed their batting approach post-2021 World Cup disaster, risking wickets upfront for fours and sixes.
India has tried Ishan Kishan, Surya Kumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer, and Sanju Samson as openers without Rahul. Bengaluru’s World Cup batting position will be intriguing. The Asia Cup could assist.
Given his physique and respectable stats, Kohli will likely bat third. He must master T20 middle-over spinners. Middle overs teams seek boundaries to maintain tempo. Virat tried, but he escaped with unorthodox strokes.
The Asia Cup’s best batter faces Rashid Khan, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Shadab Khan. He’ll do better at the World Cup if he beats them.
Suryakumar Yadav should bat fourth. Pant can bat No. 5 against spinners, but he has batting issues.
Pant has struggled in T20 Internationals, but his bowling talent has helped him. In England, he opened T20Is, and India may use him against left-arm spinners.
Dinesh Karthik won’t make the starting XI despite being a good finisher because Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja can finish for India. Karthik might replace an injured or out-of-form batsman.
Shreyas Iyer lost his Asia Cup selection to Deepak Hooda after struggling against short-pitch bowling. Hooda can play anywhere in the top six due to his quickness and spin. Part-time off-break gives India another bowling option.
Bowling:
Harshal had back-to-back great IPL seasons and would have been India’s third seamer if healthy and available. Despite not playing every game, he’s India’s T20 wicket-taker.
Avesh Khan and Arshdeep Singh are candidates to replace Harshal. One may play in Australia, one as a backup. Avesh is India’s finest seamer in the IPL but not T20Is.
Arshdeep’s yorkers and variants replace Harshal. IPL left-hander impressed in India. India will have Bumrah, Chahal, Bhuvneshwar, Avesh or Arshdeep in the absence of Harshal.
Deepak Chahar’s comeback (3/27) in the first ODI in Zimbabwe should enable him return to the main squad. His development must be monitored after being rested during the second ODI.
India’s top two spinners are Jadeja and Yuzvendra Chahal. Only two spinners may play on Australia’s fast wickets.
Ashwin and Bishnoi replaced Bumrah over another seamer. Ashwin rejoined the T20I squad and did well in the World Cup. Against right-handers, he bowls economically and takes wickets.
Bishnoi’s googly is good and he’s speedy. Ashwin’s experience and batting talents favour him in Australia, although Bishnoi’s wrist spin could extract more bounce.
The 2022 Asia Cup will select India’s T20 World Cup final 15 and playing XI. The home series against Australia and South Africa will help if team management sees roster deficiencies.
Management, selectors, and fans want all players fit for the T20 World Cup, which India won in 2007 under MS Dhoni.