Being the hosts of the ICC WORLD T20 2016 Team India have been touted as favourites to win the tournament by most of the cricket pundits and I feel no different. They have a great team set up and the return of seasoned campaigners like Yuvraj Singh and Ashish Nehra. Given the knowledge of their home conditions and the presence of high quality spinners like Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja the team surely are front runners to win the ICC mega event.
India's squad for the WORLD T20:- Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashish Nehra, Harbhajan Singh, Mohammed Shami, Pawan Negi, Ajinkya Rahane
Taking a look at the probable XI of the team that is expected to be pretty similar throughout the tournament:-
1. Shikhar Dhawan :- With Shikhar showing glimpses of returning back in form just in time for the world cup it is most likely that he will keep his openers slot for atleast for the opening few games based on his performances in the recently concluded T20 series against Australia and Sri Lanka. He is most likely to retain his spot for the most of group stage matches.
2. Rohit Sharma :- He has been touted as one of the best batsmen for team India in the limited overs format. He is most likely to keep his opening spot with the fact that you should play your best batman for the longest possible time in a game. Also his ability to accelerate as and when required is a bonus that any team would pay millions to have.
3. Virat Kohli :- Probably India's best batsman across all formats of the game. He has developed himself both as a matured player and an individual and has grown manifold ever since his debut. He has gone a long way in becoming the teams best batsman and he would definitely be rejuvenated with the break that he has got and would surely be raring to go.
4. Suresh Raina :- He is expected to come in at number 4 instead of his most preferred position (no. 3) to accommodate Virat Kohli at his favourite position. However at this position Suresh Raina played a wonderful knock in the final T20 match of the series Down Under. He is expected to make the playing XI ahead of Ajinkya Rahane due to his abilities to attack from the word go. Also his ability to bowl decent off breaks and break partnerships at crucial junctures of the game might come handy for the captain when other bowlers are being carted away to the boundaries.
5. Yuvraj Singh :- Yuvraj's comeback into the T20 squad has brought freshness back into the team and the Indian Team seem to be rejuvenated to have their best man of the successful World T20 2007 and World Cup 2011 campaigns. He has shown glimpses of his own old self but is still to regain the same level of confidence that saw him hit six 6's and single handedly win India matches at the 2 successful world cup campaigns. He will be expected to assume the finishers role and also play the role of anchoring the innings in case there is a collapse like the one that occurred in the first T20 match against Sri Lanka. Also his handy left arm spin would provide the captain with additional bowling options as the 5th bowler.
6. Mahendra Singh Dhoni :- MS Dhoni has been one of the best captains of the team and has led the nation to glory not once not twice but thrice in three showcase events of the ICC(the 2007 World T20, the CWC 2011 and the Champions Trophy 2013). Also he is known to be lightning quick behind the stumps and has been the best finisher for the team over the last decade or so. This might be his last campaign in Indian clolurs he would obviously want to make the most of this opportunity and add another trophy to his cabinet. In the last two series against Australia and Sri Lanka he has been at his smartest best while leading the younger and new look team on the feild.
7. Hardik Pandya :- Hardik Pandya is expected to perform the role of a batting all-rounder for the team and he has the ability to slog from ball 1. His batting poweress is well complemented by his ability to bowl medium pace deliveries in the middle overs and also the fact that he is a wonderful fielder who is always on his toes. With the confidence he has displayed and the batting abilities he possesses he is surely to take up the role of the finisher (from MS Dhoni) in the near future.
8. Ravindra Jadeja :- Ravindra Jadeja will be expected to perform more with the ball than with the bat. His experience is expected to pip Pawan Negi out of the squad. He is a complete package that one can expect from a bowling all rounder i.e. he gives 4 overs of assured economical bowling to the captain, is a very electric fielder in the field of play and can swing his arm to hit a few balls over the boundary ropes.
9. Ravichandran Ashwin :- Ravi Ashwin is a must play for any team in the subcontinental conditions. His variations that he has developed and the form that he has displayed over the last year or so have been phenomenal. He has been a changed bowler ever since he was dropped on the 2014 tour Down Under. He could bat well too and it was displayed recently in the first T20 against Sri Lanka where he ended as the teams highest run scorer in the match, on a green top where everybody else failed it was wonderful to see Ravi Ashwin score runs at a wonderful strike rate.
10. Jasprit Bumrah :- He has been the latest sensational inclusion to the team and he surely has proved himself enough in the two series he has played against Australia and Sri Lanka. His slingy action kept the batsmen on their toes and guessing the lines and lengths that he was going to bowl. The fact that he has the ability to bowl back to back yorkers consistently in the death, he would be an asset to any team in the world. One can say that he played against a second string Lankan team but his performances in the series Down Under against a full strength squad and one of the best teams in the world speaks volumes about his capablities.
11. Ashish Nehra :- Ashish Nehra recently made a comeback in to the T20 squad after a gap of 5 long years on the back of a successful stint in the IPL and a decent run in the domestic tournaments as well. His performances down under have been wonderful and he was similarly good in the series against Sri Lanka. Also his left arm action will provide variation to the bowling stocks of Team INDIA.
Mohammed Shami has not been included in the playing XI due to the fact that he has still to prove his fitness for the World T20 and he will still be expected to warm benches if he gets fit just in time for the World T20 due to lack of match practice. However if Shami makes a return in the Asia Cup scheduled to be played in a weeks time and he performs well he will most probably replace Ashish Nehra considering that Bumrah can be used at the death more than Nehra can given his ability to bowl consistent yorkers.
Ajinkya Rahane is also expected to warm benches unless either of Shikhar Dhawan or Rohit Sharma drop out in terms of match fitness. And also he might replace Shikhar Dhawan if Dhawan fails to replicate the form he's displayed over the last 5-6 matches he has played. He can obviously not fit into the middle order given the fact that he takes his time to get settled and then start scoring runs freely.
Harbhajan Singh is most likely to spend the entire tournament on the benches despite a wonderful display in the limited overs domestic tournaments due to the presence of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, any injury to either of the two might open the gates for his selection ahead of Pawan Negi but it is mostly unlikely to happen. His experience may prove to be useful for the team and youngsters like Pawan Negi and Hardik Pandya should grab the opportunity with open hands.
Pawan Negi the most expensive Indian buy at the VIVO IPL's auction. He is mostly unlikely to play unless there occurs any injury to any of the spinners or Hardik Pandya or else the captain needs an additional spinner in a squad that aldready has 2 world class spinners(Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja) and 2 part time spinners(Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina).
All in all India has one of the best squads for the Tournament and should be the team to beat throughout this tournament. I wish the team best of luck and may they win the prized TROPHY.
India's squad for the WORLD T20:- Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashish Nehra, Harbhajan Singh, Mohammed Shami, Pawan Negi, Ajinkya Rahane
1. Shikhar Dhawan :- With Shikhar showing glimpses of returning back in form just in time for the world cup it is most likely that he will keep his openers slot for atleast for the opening few games based on his performances in the recently concluded T20 series against Australia and Sri Lanka. He is most likely to retain his spot for the most of group stage matches.
2. Rohit Sharma :- He has been touted as one of the best batsmen for team India in the limited overs format. He is most likely to keep his opening spot with the fact that you should play your best batman for the longest possible time in a game. Also his ability to accelerate as and when required is a bonus that any team would pay millions to have.
3. Virat Kohli :- Probably India's best batsman across all formats of the game. He has developed himself both as a matured player and an individual and has grown manifold ever since his debut. He has gone a long way in becoming the teams best batsman and he would definitely be rejuvenated with the break that he has got and would surely be raring to go.
4. Suresh Raina :- He is expected to come in at number 4 instead of his most preferred position (no. 3) to accommodate Virat Kohli at his favourite position. However at this position Suresh Raina played a wonderful knock in the final T20 match of the series Down Under. He is expected to make the playing XI ahead of Ajinkya Rahane due to his abilities to attack from the word go. Also his ability to bowl decent off breaks and break partnerships at crucial junctures of the game might come handy for the captain when other bowlers are being carted away to the boundaries.
5. Yuvraj Singh :- Yuvraj's comeback into the T20 squad has brought freshness back into the team and the Indian Team seem to be rejuvenated to have their best man of the successful World T20 2007 and World Cup 2011 campaigns. He has shown glimpses of his own old self but is still to regain the same level of confidence that saw him hit six 6's and single handedly win India matches at the 2 successful world cup campaigns. He will be expected to assume the finishers role and also play the role of anchoring the innings in case there is a collapse like the one that occurred in the first T20 match against Sri Lanka. Also his handy left arm spin would provide the captain with additional bowling options as the 5th bowler.
6. Mahendra Singh Dhoni :- MS Dhoni has been one of the best captains of the team and has led the nation to glory not once not twice but thrice in three showcase events of the ICC(the 2007 World T20, the CWC 2011 and the Champions Trophy 2013). Also he is known to be lightning quick behind the stumps and has been the best finisher for the team over the last decade or so. This might be his last campaign in Indian clolurs he would obviously want to make the most of this opportunity and add another trophy to his cabinet. In the last two series against Australia and Sri Lanka he has been at his smartest best while leading the younger and new look team on the feild.
7. Hardik Pandya :- Hardik Pandya is expected to perform the role of a batting all-rounder for the team and he has the ability to slog from ball 1. His batting poweress is well complemented by his ability to bowl medium pace deliveries in the middle overs and also the fact that he is a wonderful fielder who is always on his toes. With the confidence he has displayed and the batting abilities he possesses he is surely to take up the role of the finisher (from MS Dhoni) in the near future.
8. Ravindra Jadeja :- Ravindra Jadeja will be expected to perform more with the ball than with the bat. His experience is expected to pip Pawan Negi out of the squad. He is a complete package that one can expect from a bowling all rounder i.e. he gives 4 overs of assured economical bowling to the captain, is a very electric fielder in the field of play and can swing his arm to hit a few balls over the boundary ropes.
9. Ravichandran Ashwin :- Ravi Ashwin is a must play for any team in the subcontinental conditions. His variations that he has developed and the form that he has displayed over the last year or so have been phenomenal. He has been a changed bowler ever since he was dropped on the 2014 tour Down Under. He could bat well too and it was displayed recently in the first T20 against Sri Lanka where he ended as the teams highest run scorer in the match, on a green top where everybody else failed it was wonderful to see Ravi Ashwin score runs at a wonderful strike rate.
10. Jasprit Bumrah :- He has been the latest sensational inclusion to the team and he surely has proved himself enough in the two series he has played against Australia and Sri Lanka. His slingy action kept the batsmen on their toes and guessing the lines and lengths that he was going to bowl. The fact that he has the ability to bowl back to back yorkers consistently in the death, he would be an asset to any team in the world. One can say that he played against a second string Lankan team but his performances in the series Down Under against a full strength squad and one of the best teams in the world speaks volumes about his capablities.
11. Ashish Nehra :- Ashish Nehra recently made a comeback in to the T20 squad after a gap of 5 long years on the back of a successful stint in the IPL and a decent run in the domestic tournaments as well. His performances down under have been wonderful and he was similarly good in the series against Sri Lanka. Also his left arm action will provide variation to the bowling stocks of Team INDIA.
Mohammed Shami has not been included in the playing XI due to the fact that he has still to prove his fitness for the World T20 and he will still be expected to warm benches if he gets fit just in time for the World T20 due to lack of match practice. However if Shami makes a return in the Asia Cup scheduled to be played in a weeks time and he performs well he will most probably replace Ashish Nehra considering that Bumrah can be used at the death more than Nehra can given his ability to bowl consistent yorkers.
Ajinkya Rahane is also expected to warm benches unless either of Shikhar Dhawan or Rohit Sharma drop out in terms of match fitness. And also he might replace Shikhar Dhawan if Dhawan fails to replicate the form he's displayed over the last 5-6 matches he has played. He can obviously not fit into the middle order given the fact that he takes his time to get settled and then start scoring runs freely.
Harbhajan Singh is most likely to spend the entire tournament on the benches despite a wonderful display in the limited overs domestic tournaments due to the presence of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, any injury to either of the two might open the gates for his selection ahead of Pawan Negi but it is mostly unlikely to happen. His experience may prove to be useful for the team and youngsters like Pawan Negi and Hardik Pandya should grab the opportunity with open hands.
Pawan Negi the most expensive Indian buy at the VIVO IPL's auction. He is mostly unlikely to play unless there occurs any injury to any of the spinners or Hardik Pandya or else the captain needs an additional spinner in a squad that aldready has 2 world class spinners(Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja) and 2 part time spinners(Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina).
All in all India has one of the best squads for the Tournament and should be the team to beat throughout this tournament. I wish the team best of luck and may they win the prized TROPHY.
Great post. Keep it moving. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteWell done. Well written and well preented.
ReplyDelete