It has been a while since Team India has won an ICC event. At crucial junctures in recent years, the batting department has failed. This is one area where the team would want to improve at the 2021 T20 World Cup. The ICC event will start on October 17th and will be held in the UAE and Oman. In this article, we take a look at predicted India’s batting order at the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Openers: Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are likely to open the batting for India at the upcoming World Cup. The management tried out this combination against England earlier this year. It worked well and since Virat has been opening in IPL, he could as well join Rohit at the top for the all-important event.
There is an unwritten rule in T20 cricket that a team’s best batsman should get the maximum deliveries to face. In India’s case, Virat and Rohit dominate in the batting department, and it is best to give them maximum opportunities. Moreover, the playing style of both these cricketers is different, and they complement together very well. Hence, India could be best served by a Rohit-Virat opening partnership.
No.3 – KL Rahul
KL Rahul could bat at No.3 in India’s batting order at the upcoming T20 World Cup. The highest run-getter for India in recent years, KL has been in terrific form in IPL, as well. Although he has not operated a lot in this role, with Suryakumar Yadav not in great form, KL could be tasked with the responsibility at No.3.
No.4 – Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav has gotten his T20I career off to a good start. In just four games so far, SKY has scored 139 runs at an average of 46.3 and a strike rate of 169.5. However, his form in IPL has not been encouraging. Despite this, the management is likely to give him a chance at the No.4 spot. Against spinners and in the middle-overs, SKY is still India’s best bet. Therefore, at least for the initial games, the Mumbai cricketer will play for India at No.4.
No.5 – Rishabh Pant
While his recent form in Test cricket has been noteworthy, Rishabh Pant’s record in limited-overs cricket, especially in the T20I’s has not been extraordinary. Yet, being a left-handed batter and a proper X-factor cricketer, Pant is likely to play all games for India at the T20 World Cup. Of course, he is India’s first-choice wicket-keeper and this will further guarantee him a spot in the XI.
No.6 – Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya will play at No.6 in India’s batting order at the upcoming T20 World Cup. However, this might not happen if Hardik is not able to bowl. Without him bowling, India cannot have depth in the bowling department and with Hardik himself not being in the greatest batting form, he could as well be replaced by another player. That said, in the death-overs, Hardik ranks No.1 in the Indian Team as the power-hitter. Therefore, he will surely be a part of the plans at the World Cup.
No.7 – Ravindra Jadeja
Interestingly, it is at No.7 that India’s most confident batsman at the moment will play at. Hence, it would not be a surprise if India actually plays Ravindra Jadeja higher up the order. Jaddu has developed the skills of finishing a game and will be important to India’s prospects. With the kind of form that he is in, the management might be tempted to play him above Hardik Pandya or maybe even Rishabh Pant.
