The Indian T20I men’s cricket team is expected to undergo a massive transformation following their semi-final exit in the T20 World Cup earlier this month. Here is the XI that could play in the next edition of the T20 World Cup.
The BCCI has axed the Indian selection committee, led by Chetan Sharma, on Friday – after various reports suggested that the board was unhappy with a number of picks for the recent T20 World Cup 2022. The next edition of the tournament, to be held in the West Indies and the USA, is still two years away, giving the new selectors adequate time to identify a new bunch and skipper for the future.
A number of big stars, including Virat Kohli and current captain Rohit Sharma, are expected to make way for youngsters. We pick a probable XI for the event two years later.
Prithvi Shaw
Shaw’s repeated snubs have not been answered, and continue to baffle every time he is not picked in the national squad. One of the most aggressive batters, Shaw has struck at 153 in the powerplay overs since IPL 2020. This will be a significant improvement on India’s recent T20 World Cup performance, where they had the fourth-worst strike rate in the first six overs. Shaw has played only one T20I: he should have played many more.
Rishabh Pant – wicketkeeper
The youngster has not been able to set the T20I stage on fire yet, with a strike rate of 127 in 64 games, but he can be more effective if pushed up the order. His promotion will not only give the team a left-hander at the top – something they have missed of late – but will also allow him to play his natural game. Pant needs a few balls to settle before he gets going, which is unlikely to hurt India if he is paired with a player like Shaw, who tees off from ball one. Although a small sample size, Pant strikes at 159 while opening in T20Is, his best numbers at any position.
Rahul Tripathi
A consistent IPL performer, Tripathi has been selected in India’s squads of late, but is yet to make his debut. His strike rates of 162 against pace in the 2022 IPL and 151 against spin demonstrate his versatility. Although he will be 33 by the 2024 T20 World Cup, India have picked Suryakumar Yadav after he turned 30 0 and have reaped the results. Tripathi is fit, struck at 158 in the middle overs in the IPL this year, and can ensure the tempo never drops.
Suryakumar Yadav
Despite age catching up with him, ‘SKY’ will be one of the first names on the XI in the West Indies. One of the brightest sparks for India in their recent campaign, his ability to dominate spin ensures that India are not tied down in the middle overs. In 2022, his 60 T20I sixes are the most, and he is the only player to score over 1,000 runs at a strike rate of 186 and an average of 43. He is only expected to grow in the next few years.
Hardik Pandya – captain
Reports suggest that Pandya, skipper of the victorious Gujarat Titans in this year’s IPL, will be India’s next T20I captain. In his limited opportunities as a leader, Hardik has impressed – be it bowling with the new ball, anchoring the innings after the loss of early wickets, or switching gears to put a big score on the board. His mental toughness came to the fore against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup, when he calmed down Kohli in a nervy run-chase. His temperament and street-smartness make him an exciting captaincy prospect.
Sanju Samson
Samson has batted up the order in the IPL of late, but has the game to be a designated ‘finisher’. Despite his undeniable potential and consistency in the IPL, he has played only 16 T20Is since his debut in 2015. He has struck at 146 in the IPL since 2020 for the Rajasthan Royals, and can essay the role similar to what was assigned to Dinesh Karthik in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup in Australia.
Ravindra Jadeja
India were left with no left-handers in their XI in Australia if Karthik played, which forced them back Axar Patel in favour of Yuzvendra Chahal in a tournament where wrist-spinners thrived. Jadeja’s presence in the team immediately removes these two concerns, allowing India to select the best bowling attack without worrying about the long tail. Although Jadeja strikes at only 125 with the bat, he has bailed out the Chennai Super Kings regularly. He is also one of the finest fielders in the world, and goes for 7.04 an over.
Ravi Bishnoi
Bishnoi was strangely omitted from India’s T20I squad for New Zealand despite being India’s most economical bowler in his last match, against Pakistan in the Asia Cup. He was named a standby in India’s T20 World Cup squad, but has been ignored for the series in New Zealand. He bamboozles with his googlies, has seldom shown nerves under pressure, and is a fantastic fielder.
Umran Malik
The time to groom Umran is now, with the former selection committee picking him for the New Zealand series. An out-and-out tearaway is rare in Indian cricket, but has improved significantly under Dale Steyn at Sunrisers Hyderabad. In conditions that aid fast bowlers, he can be unplayable, sending down 95mph rockets consistently. Umran is also working on his batting, which works to his advantage.
Jasprit Bumrah
Bumrah is struggling with injuries, and an update on his fitness is still awaited. If fit, his inclusion is perhaps obvious.
Arshdeep Singh
Left-arm Arshdeep offers variety to the pace attack, getting the new ball to swing. He was picked in the T20 World Cup team for his death bowling skills and is expected to form a lethal combination with Bumrah in the end overs.
