Selectors bring back Bumrah and Harshal Patel as Team India squad named for the ICC World T20 in Australia
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Call it old wine in a new bottle or flat beer, the Indian team selected for the ICC World T20 in Australia does not have too many surprises. After Team India crashed to depths of despair at the Asia Cup, failing to make the final, there has been unrest among millions of cricket fans.
Club versus country, where players give importance to the IPL and players being unfit, all these are issues which have raised their ugly head again. Rohit Sharma, who himself looks a pale shadow of his self is the captain while shaky KL Rahul is the vice captain.
Rohit Sharma to lead India in his first World Cup at the 2022 ICC World T20
The selection committee meeting on Monday would really not have had much to do because if players had to be dropped on form in the Asia Cup, the list of flop shows would be high. Rohit may have scored briefly and breezily in a few matches but that intent was missing where he had to score big.
In contrast, former skipper Virat Kohli showed he was lean, mean and hungry. The grammar of his batting was there to see when he smashed his 71st international ton against Afghanistan. It was not just that one knock, but Virat’s work ethic and devotion which saw him play himself into form after three years.
Rahul did score against Afghanistan, but that was hardly what one expects from a man who had been promoted as deputy to Rohit on the basis of his past performances. Past imperfect, future tense, that could well be the mantra as Team India will embark for Australia for the ICC World T20.
Before that, there are two series at home. However, what will really matter is if India win the title at the ICC World T20. After all, Ravi Shastri and Kohli were booted out for that reason, not winning an ICC title. After MS Dhoni‘s side won the World Cup in 2011, India have not got to grip a major ICC title.
Rohit knows he has to come good in Australia. Critics are watching, and they are in plenty. His batting apart, his fielding also is a poor sight. For all those who thought Rishabh Pant would be dropped, there is bad news. This man has lost his way briefly.
But to have dropped him would be bizarre as so many of the players were on sleep mode in the Asia Cup. One talks of T20 being for the younger players. That seems to be a misnomer as R.Ashwin and Dinesh Karthik are in the squad. The heartening part is pace ace Jasprit Bumrah is back in the side along with Harshal Patel.
These two speed merchants are important for Team India. Fans will hope and pray players like Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya will find form in Australia. Their batting will be important. Pandya had shown in the IPL how his four overs can be relied on.
That he lost his way in the deserts of the United Arab Emirates should be seen as an aberration. The reserves squad also has old wine. Mohd Shami finds a mention in that list along with Shreyas Iyer, Ravi Bishnoi and Deepak Chahar.
India 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, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh.
Standby players – Mohd. Shami, Shreyas Iyer, Ravi Bishnoi, Deepak Chahar.
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S Kannan
(382 Articles Published)