While potential changes to the Decision Review System were the most discussed in the lead-up, one of the most impactful is that teams can carry “seven additional players and/or support staff to accompany the squad of 23 to ICC senior events” – here’s a look at how the extended India squad could look like for the 2021 T20 World Cup.

Openers

Main squad: Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul
Back-up: Shikhar Dhawan

The extended squad could favour KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan, whose patchy form has been a concern for India in T20Is. With Ishan Kishan and Virat Kohli himself available as back-up openers, any of these four could partner Rohit Sharma, almost certainly the first-choice opener, at the top.

Middle-order

Main squad: Virat Kohli (back-up opener), Suryakumar Yadav
Back-up: Shreyas Iyer

Unless Dhawan or Rahul has a bumper IPL or India go out of their way to accomodate Kishan at the top, Kohli will open with Rohit as he himself stated during the England series. Suryakumar Yadav as a floater in the middle-order is almost certainly assured of a place in the XI. This might mean Shreyas Iyer warming the bench or moving down the order like he did in the T20Is against England. Rahul might also be seen as a middle-order option after his success in the role in ODIs.

All-rounders

Main squad: Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar
Back-up: Rahul Tewatia

It’s a department India have usually struggled with, but with the poor returns from Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, we could see an additional spin-bowling all-rounder squeezed in. Rahul Tewatia might pip Axar Patel to this spot with his higher batting value in the death in this extended India T20 World Cup squad.

Wicketkeepers

Main squad: Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan (back-up opener)
Back-up: Sanju Samson

Pant is a certain starter in India’s XI while Kishan could also be in contention for a spot in the top-order, if not as opener itself. Sanju Samson, who was recently dropped from the limited-overs sides, could benefit from the extended India squad for the T20 World Cup.

Spinners

Main squad: Yuzvendra Chahal, Rahul Chahar
Back-up: Varun Chakravathy

With Chahal failing to make a major impact in the T20Is against England, Rahul Chahar could become a first-choice pick especially if he has a good IPL season. Varun Chakravarthy, despite concerns around his fitness, could come into the squad with mystery spinners always a good option in this format, especially in the early stages of their careers.

Fast bowlers

Main squad: Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami
Back-up: T Natarajan, Deepak Chahar

The fast bowling group is pretty much set with Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shardul Thakur, improved and more of an all-round option, likely making it to the XI. T Natarajan for his death bowling ability and left-arm variation, could edge out a few other contenders. Deepak Chahar as back-up for Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami as a powerplay bowler and middle overs enforcer could complete the pace attack.

Players who might miss out: Krunal Pandya, Ravichandran Ashwin, Dinesh Karthik, Navdeep Saini, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav.