India preview - ICC T20 World Cup 2022
SpeakingNick's preview of ICC ranked #1 India for the upcoming T20 World Cup
India
ICC Ranking: 1
India will arrive in Australia under new leadership. Captain Rohit Sharma connects with former teammate, and newly appointed coach, Rahul Dravid, to form a scholarly partnership. Both will be determined to push India past the Super Four stage, where they have faltered in their last two World Cup campaigns.
After a disappointing Asia Cup where they finished third, the world number one has shown no evidence of panic in their selection, sticking with a majority of the players who travelled to the UAE. Clearly, though, they will miss the influential Jasprit Bumrah.
Bumrah misses the tournament due to a back injury — extremely unfortunate timing for India, and the ebullient 28-year-old.
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Batting
First, we look at the Indian batting lineup, full of experience, skill, and power. Expect them to be high, or top, in the overall scoring category. The soft spot appears to be in their bottom four.
The continuous production of India’s right-handed batters resembles one of Henry Ford’s assembly lines. Systematic, repeatable, and efficient; are all words that would have resonated with Ford. The latest model is Suryakumar Yadav (SKY) — a 360 striker with power and touch in equal doses. His flat-line temperament is well suited to the pivotal four-spot (number four) — and recent form stands up well (Australia T20I home series) — there will be lofty expectations of the talented rookie. Twenty-three matches into his T20I career, SKY is placed No.2 in the ICC T20 Batter Rankings with a strike rate of 175.45, the best of any player to bat as many times in T20I history. Only Pakistan captain, Babar Azam, heads him. (an additional note on SKY — check to see if he brings his thigh pad to Australia)
Rohit Sharma, who sleeps with white cricket balls, will be a lock at the top of the order. Who will be his partner is an interesting question. Convention says KL Rahul —he to a product of the Indian batting assembly line — Rahul gives India a double threat in the powerplay alongside Rohit; however, other options exist. Virat Kohli could move up a spot and play the ‘pilot*’ role. Equally, Rishabh Pant is an option with his unpredictable method and left-hand bias. Whichever way they triangulate the top three, it will remain an intimidating proposition, particularly with Suryakumar Yadav, at four. After that, you can throw the balls up.
Other batters to note are: Deepak Hooda — a versatile and seemingly resilient player who can slot into multiple spots in the order. Hooda gives India excellent cover in the five-spot, that will be initially occupied by Hardik Pandya. Pandya is a key cog in the bigger machine, providing India’s bowling with difficult overs, and his hitting can be as destructive as any batter in their line-up. The one question mark will be fitness, or maintaining his fitness in a tournament environment. Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik are the glovemen, and both crucial middle-to-late-over batters. Saying that, as mentioned, Pant might be a viable option to open with Rohit if needed.
Where other sides will try to lengthen their batting orders with all-rounders, India has typically exposed their mid-to-late-order as high as seven or eight, playing genuine bowlers at eight, nine, 10, and 11. Ravichandran Ashwin’s inclusion will alleviate some of this lower-order pressure, although India has placed plenty of hope in the batting of bowling all-rounder, Axar Patel — I am still to be convinced. Ashwin might see more game time than expected.
In summary: India looks to have most of the batting bases covered. Whichever way they go with the top three, it seems dangerous. Rohit, Rahul, Kohli, and possibly, Pant — all bat deep into the innings when set. Suryakumar Yadav, Pandya, and Karthik form a provoking middle-order, and the back-end — we will see. Opposition might not get to the back four too often.
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Bowling
India’s bowling group is young on experience, with the exception of Ashwin. It will provide fascinating viewing throughout the tournament. Look for their spin economy rate to be one of the best.
Reiterating a previous comment — Jasprit Bumrah shapes as a huge loss for India — the gap left seems a gaping void in their title aspirations. Bumrah has the experience, and reputation to draw on; statistically, he is way down the ICC rankings; however, this is not a genuine reflection of his worth to the Indian team. He will be missed.
Shoes are never left empty for long; they are there to be filled. So, who will it be? India named Deepak Chahar and Mohammad Shami as standby players; Shami has the overall experience, yet his T20 numbers are average, at best. Chahar is relatively inexperienced. but appears the better option, and his inclusion would be in keeping with the rest of this youthful bowling group — Ashwin excepted. Much will rest with them.
Arshdeep Singh will give natural variety with the new ball; tall, left-handed, and quick enough, he’s able to swing the ball back into right-handers; as well as lefties. A rock-solid wrist at release presents a near-perfect seam, and he has a dependable command of length. Australian pitches and overhead conditions, in October, should offer plenty to the wiry Punjabi.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the most experienced of the bowlers — by games played — he also offers a high level of skill with ball in hand. Adapting to in-game conditions will be crucial; Bhuvneshwar looks will placed to handle this, and do not discount his poker-like temperament. Hardik Pandya and Harshal Patel round out the pacers, with one more to be added before the October 15 cut-off. Unfortunately for Indian supporters, it won’t be Jasprit Bumrah.
A left-field replacement for Bumrah could still be Mohammed Siraj — who might just edge out Shami and Chahar. Siraj has bowled well on previous tours of Australia, and his aggressively quick swing with the new ball, coupled with solid defensive capability, might just land him the last spot.
Spin will sit in the hands of a former chess player: one of India’s all-time greats; and a newcomer who replaces a personal favourite of mine — Ravi Jadeja. It seems a natural progression — a former chess player to international leg-spinner — enter; Yuzvendra Chahal. Chahal has prospered in the most difficult of environments, bowling white-ball, leg-spin, inside some of the smallest grounds in world cricket. He entrusts nous and patience with admirable conviction, and should benefit from Australia’s deeper boundaries.
Axar Patel stands tall and wide, a frame better suited to a quick bowler. Spin it is, though, left-arm finger spin — delivered from a lower arm with an under-cutter action. Right-handers will be his best match-up. Axar rarely gives the timbers away — Harsha Boghle believes he is in the midst of a love affair with the stumps, often visiting them — only can it be, the voice of cricket, Harsha Boghle. *Note to all batters and coaches: lower your 45-degree boundary bat swing.
Rounding out the triangle is Ravi Ashwin. The sum of the three sides is not equal in this instance. Ashwin is vastly experienced, and well-travelled in all formats. Previously, Indian selectors have seen international T20 as a hindrance to Ashwin, preferring to watch him play ODI’s and Test matches. And, of course, IPL. I believe Ashwin shapes as the joker in the deck — India is likely to play him when they need him. A handy card to have up your sleeve.
Fielding (defence)
More to follow here. Â I plan to go back over all the teams previewed with a quick-hit summary. Fielding (defence) will be featured, as well as a deeper dive into stats, both player, and team based.
Indian squad for ICC T20 World Cup: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya, R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh.
*One player to be added by 15 October*
That’s it for India. More to follow on the rest.
As always, thank you for being here.
