With the primary focus on the upcoming T20 World-Cup, all the remaining matches are going to be India’s trials, as the team hasn’t likely found the right combination of the XI to play its first game in the tournament.
This, in actual sense is not that bad a thing; as it keeps the team and its management on its toes until the World-Cup begins.
Few Observations and Calculated Options:
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India will dearly rue Ravindra Jadeja’s services, as him missing out completely changes the team dynamics.
But all is not lost, because it is good to carry a 70/75% Star-studded team rather than taking a 90/95% team with the big names into a tournament like World-Cup.
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HARDIK Pandya, AXAR Patel and DEEPAK Hooda are likely to be India’s best bet this WC. Any playing combination should revolve around these three.
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Rohit, KL Rahul, Virat and Suryakumar Yadav at top 4 is just not the right way to go with Jadeja missing the tournament. Neither of these 4 players provide a bowling option and are all like to like (right-handed batting) options saturated at the top order.KL Rahul has to bench for Rishabh Pant who can provide a left-handed option in the midst.
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DK and Pant together in the same eleven will prove to be criminal for India, as neither of them provide a bowling option.Pant should be the go-to choice as he gives the valuable option of playing a lefty in the top order. Also, he is way more energetic behind the stumps than Dinesh Karthik.
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Bhuvi’s swing, experience and yorker hitting ability shouldn’t be ignored. He is the one along with Bumrah who can bowl at any stage of the game.Harshal Patel will be the right second choice horse’s-for-courses replacement for him.
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Arshdeep Singh can be the best under-dog option in the tournament with his left-arm angle. He should be looked at as a direct pick right next to Jasprit Bumrah.
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FIELDING – the most underrated aspect of winning a big tournament. Haplessly, India will be without Ravindra Jadeja (world crickets ongoing best fielder).This is where fresh and young faces of Hardik, Hooda, Axar, Pant & Arshdeep can play a crucial role along with Virat, Rohit & Surya in bridging that youth and experience gap between the team.
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The bold decisions, the surprise factors and a lot more bowling options is crucial to a T20 game.
My Pick -
Rohit Sharma (c)
Rishabh Pant (wk) / KL Rahul
Virat Kohli
Suryakumar Yadav
Hardik Pandya
Deepak Hooda / Dinesh Karthik
Axar Patel
Bhuvneshwar Kumar / Harshal Patel
Yuzvendra Chahal / Ravichandran Ashwin
Arshdeep Singh
Jasprit Bumrah
A lineup that gives
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7 bowling options (4 pace & 3 spin)
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A dynamic left-handed option in the top order
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Mix of youth and experienced player
Cricket being a team game, is won by the team performance.
Only when the focus will shift away from the Star Indian Players... and get distributed among the whole team… a World-Cup won’t be that far away for INDIA.
It may all boil down to how Hungry the TEAM is!
