Can Rohit Sharma’s Team India lift T20 WC after 15 years?

All India Senior Selection Committee met on Monday to select India squad For the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia and for the T20I series against Australia and South Africa at home. Fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel have returned to the squad for the World Cup and the Australia and South Africa series. Fast bowlers Mohammed Shami and Deepak Chahar have been included in the squad as standby players for the T20 World Cup and are also included in the squad for the two home series. The ICC T20 World Cup will be played from 16 October to 13 November this year.

opening option

India have a stable opening option in the form of KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma. While Rohit has shown glimpses of form in the Asia Cup 2022, there is still a question mark on Rahul’s strike rate. India can also tinker with the opening combination with Virat Kohli at the top. He has the best average when batting at the top and the century against Afghanistan makes his case even stronger. Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh Pant can also open the batting but there is very little chance of that.

middle order

Virat will be at number three, Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh Pant will be at number four and fifth. India can swap Rishabh with Dinesh Karthik if the substitute team has an off-spinner in their bowling attack. It will be very difficult for Deepak Hooda to get a game as he has not bowled enough in the Asia Cup and can hardly be used as a part-time bowler.

all rounder

Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel will play important roles in the lower middle order. India cannot afford to lose either of these two all-rounders to injury. Hardik especially because of his big hitting skills. Akshar will have to fill Ravindra Jadeja’s big shoes.

spinners

Yuzvendra Chahal will be the first choice spinner for Rohit Sharma while R Ashwin will be his backup. Team India will probably want to play Ashwin ahead of Chahal, if the opposition team has a lot of left-handed players. The Word Cup is in Australia and thus it will be very unlikely that Rahul Dravid will field two spinners and Axar Patel together.

fast bowlers

India are going with four fast bowlers in their bowling attack, with Hardik Pandya in fourth position. Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel and Arshdeep Singh form a solid pace attack with experience and quality. Arshdeep and Harshal will fight for the third speedster’s place. Bumrah and Harshal can bowl in the death while Kumar will be in action in the powerplay.

Ideal Playing XI

Openers: Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul

Middle Order: Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant

All-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel

Spinner: Yuzvendra Chahali

Pacers: Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel

batting

Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dinesh Karthik (WK),

bowling

Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh.

all rounder

Hardik Pandya, R Ashwin, Axar Patel

standby player

Mo. Shami, Shreyas Iyer, Ravi Bishnoi, Deepak Chahar.