2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup - India (UAE/Oman)

[icyman]

If I remember Correctly Similar thing happened in 2014 or the 2016 WT20 as well , the groups were changed last minutes to include INDO- PAK Game.

Did you watch the draw? The teams were drawn out this time round. (similar to what they have in FIFA)

For 2104, 2016, the ICC has shamelessly admitted to manipulating the draws. However, in this case I do not think so.

I don't expect that to happen for sure. Pakistan are terrible in most of the ICC event matches against India and they have committed some blunders against India in the past.

Agree, their track record barring the ICC CT has been poor. Where India will lose this- is the selection. Heading into the WT20, we do not have an inkling of what the top/ middle order will look like. Usually champion teams have it all figured out with the exception of 1/2 spots. India, on the other hand are grappling with their opener, middler order, wicker-keeper, allrounder, spinners. Barring Rohit, Virat and Bumrah, they are yet to make up their minds on who will play. It doesn't bode well, if you ask me. I fully expect the team to throw up surprises like Vijay Shankar again!

As a result, the team wouldn't have played together and will not gel well. It will be like a ROI/ Irani Trophy squad which takes time to find its groove.

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

Did you watch the draw? The teams were drawn out this time round. (similar to what they have in FIFA)

For 2104, 2016, the ICC has shamelessly admitted to manipulating the draws. However, in this case I do not think so.


Agree, their track record barring the ICC CT has been poor. Where India will lose this- is the selection. Heading into the WT20, we do not have an inkling of what the top/ middle order will look like. Usually champion teams have it all figured out with the exception of 1/2 spots. India, on the other hand are grappling with their opener, middler order, wicker-keeper, allrounder, spinners. Barring Rohit, Virat and Bumrah, they are yet to make up their minds on who will play. It doesn't bode well, if you ask me. I fully expect the team to throw up surprises like Vijay Shankar again!

As a result, the team wouldn't have played together and will not gel well. It will be like a ROI/ Irani Trophy squad which takes time to find its groove.

I would say that yes we are consistent. Yes we have a bench strength which is quality wise the best crop in World Cricket. But where we are lacking is the management. You could probably say that India is one of those sides whose resources are terribly managed. The lack of surety regarding the spots of a certain players have always hurt them in tournaments like these.

A top 6 consisting of

KL Rahul
Rohit Sharma
Virat Kohli
Iyer/ SKY
Rishabh Pant
Hardik Pandya

Well that is a really balanced line-up and at the same time they have enough of power hitting ability.

But now the problem is

KL Rahul won the orange cap in consecutive IPL seasons. But I would say he was terrible for most part in 2020 IPL despite winning the orange cap. Now I would ask you what is the point in scoring 500+ runs at a strike rate of less than 120s? Again this is about the lack of guidance. His natural game is taking on the attack to the bowlers in Powerplay and continuing the momentum in the middle overs. But in recent times he is unnecessarily taking his time to see off the new ball and never really takes off in the middle overs. He was actually dropped against England!!!

Now, Kohli says that he would open for India inspite of having a better option in KL Rahul.

Iyer is actually a top order batsman and is forced to bat at 4 because Virat Kohli bats at 3. Infact for some illogical reasons known to the team management he batted below Hardik Pandya against England. Where does any sense prevail in this? When we talk about SKY he is a destructive batsman and can play anywhere from opening to no.7. But he best works between 3-5 in the batting order.

Although Pant is a terrific player in this format but he hasn't really fired playing for India which is a worrying sign.

Hardik Pandya actually makes this side as an all rounder. But it has been ages since he has bowled and is still a little injury prone.

Back-ups:-

Kishan
Dhawan
Samson
Manish Pandey

I don't know why but Kishan hasn't given enough opportunities and certainly doesn't look anywhere near the plans of making the XI. Dhawan has had a couple of terrific seasons in the IPL but he hasn't translated his IPL form in International Cricket. At best he gives us a 20-ball 30. So this means, he neither helps the runs on the board nor the scoring rate.

Samson doesn't really have done well even in IPL to be consistent enough. He just comes in whacks a couple of sixes and is back in the dugout. He doesn't usually strike the older ball as cleanly as he does in the Powerplay. So we cannot rely on him to deliver match winning knocks.

You'll be surprised to hear this, but Manish Pandey averages somewhere around 35 in recent times with a healthy strike rate close to 140s batting at 6 for India unlike the IPL where he bats at 3 and strikes at around low 120s. But now he isn't in the playing XI for India because he struggles in the IPL. No logic in this whatsoever.

Will try to discuss about bowling in another post.

I think both of us are speaking on the same lines now.

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

India's bowling is an interesting topic when we discuss about the possible options of the team for the WT20. They've somehow got a lots of options to choose from both in terms of pace and spin bowling options

I would possibly want to have these bowlers irrespective of whatever scenarios they can face:-

Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Yuzvendra Chahal
Kuldeep Yadav
Jasprit Bumrah

I don't think any team has such a quality in their bowling as the above one. All 5 of them are consistent performers and limited overs specialist.

Ravindra Jadeja is possibly my lock in at no.7 and I don't have the courage to move him from there and see where India are heading. He is just that much important for us. The guy is under-rated as hell!!!

Now let us see what Kohli's plan looks like

Shardul Thakur (because he bats well. Seriously? Then why have him as a bowler?)
Washington Sundar (middle overs specialist. How?)
Yuzvendra Chahal (new ball spinner. His and Sundar's role looks switched for some odd reason)
Jasprit Bumrah

Don't tell me that we are going with Hardik at 7 just to fit in Shreyas Iyer. That's actually compromising on our bowling. The big worry is Bumrah's not so very good form. And I am afraid that Kohli would have Siraj and would rest Bumrah for the Test Series in South Africa and eventually not even play him over there as well.

Possible back-ups?

Mohammed Siraj (I am actually very much impressed with his IPL performances and is a good option to have in case Bhuvi misses out with an injury)
Navdeep Saini (his pace is like an X-factor, for an unpopular option he is a like-for-like replacement for Bumrah's pace but lacks accuracy a bit)
Rahul Chahar (definitely one of most difficult bowlers to face on a slow track but his consistency is the key)
Washington Sundar (if we are actually looking for a new ball spinner, then Sundar is worth the spot)
Deepak Chahar (the best bowling figures in the world in T20Is belongs to this guy and he could possibly bat as well which he proved yesterday. Unfortunately, the above bowlers deserve their spot before him)
Axar Patel (not been give much of chances but he is a good option as a backup for Jadeja)

I am surprinsingly excluding India's leading wicket taker in this format (Shardul Thakur) for reasons:-

A) He is a Test specialist
B) His economy rate is a huge concern
C) He bowls too many boundary balls and on his off-day he would even concede 50-60 runs off his 4 overs

So it is better if he is kept away from the LOI formats.

My India's squad for the WT20 looks like this(in case we are going for 18):-

Rohit Sharma v/
KL Rahul
Virat Kohli
SKY
Rishabh Pant
Hardik Pandya
Ravindra Jadeja
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Kuldeep Yadav
Yuzvendra Chahal
Jasprit Bumrah
Ishan Kishan
Shikhar Dhawan
Shreyas Iyer
Washington Sundar
Mohammed Siraj
Rahul Chahar
Navdeep Saini

Injury back-ups:-

Deepak Chahar
Axar Patel
Sanju Samson
Manish Pandey

 

[CerealKiller]

Fixtures are out

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

Fixtures are out

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Unfortunately it looks improbable that Afghanistan would be a part of this tournament.

 

[CerealKiller]

Unfortunately it looks improbable that Afghanistan would be a part of this tournament.

They will, i think. But let’s wait and see, and hope for the best.

 

[AsadRM]

So, the WT20 Super12 starts on my birthday and the India vs Pakistan game is a day after my birthday! Hopefully, Pakistan will not ruin my birthday, and rather give me a belated gift by winning against India.

 

[Verified Enigma]

So, the WT20 Super12s starts on my birthday and the India vs Pakistan game is a day after my birthday! Hopefully, Pakistan will not ruin my birthday, and rather give me a belated gift by winning against India.

 

[AsadRM]

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A Pakistani fittingly replied to this after the Champions Trophy Final, but it's not appropriate to be posted here

 

[CerealKiller]

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[CerealKiller]

 

[og_nizzle]

What do we make of Windies chances? Defending champions and a lot of dangerous players but recent form in t20s hasn't been great and down to 9th in the rankings

 

[wasteyouryouth]

 

[Verified Enigma]

So Oz won't carry Carey to UAE

 

[wasteyouryouth]

Standby players – Shreyas Iyer, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar.