ICC T20 World Cup 2021 will begin this October in the United Arab Emirates. Team India will start as one of the favorites to win. Virat Kohli will captain India for the first time in this competition. In all previous editions, MS Dhoni led Team India. It will be a new challenge for Kohli.
He has played the skipper’s role in Champions Trophy. Also, Virat Kohli captained the side in 2019 World Cup and 2019-21 WTC. However, 2021 T20 World Cup will be a different challenge. Decisions about playing XI can make a huge difference. In this article today, we will look at Team India’s possible playing XI for the ICC T20 World Cup.
Openers – Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan
Rohit Sharma is certain to open the innings. The Hitman has good numbers in the UAE. He can destroy any bowling attack of the world on his day. However, his opening partner is not yet decided. Either KL Rahul or Shikhar Dhawan will take that spot.
Rahul won the Orange Cap in IPL 2020 in the UAE last year. He has scored centuries in T20I cricket. Meanwhile, Dhawan has been very consistent. He has a great record in ICC tournaments. Dhawan will have an upper hand in this race because he is a left-handed batsman and will give the right-left dynamic to the opening combination.
Middle Order – Virat Kohli (c), Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant (wk)
Virat Kohli will captain the Indian cricket team. He batted well as an opener in the final T20I against England. But India needs him at number three. He has much experience of playing at this position. Also, India has three worthy batsmen who can play the opener’s role.
Delhi Capitals stars Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant will take the next two spots. Iyer and Manish Pandey are the contenders for number four. Even Suryakumar Yadav is an option. However, Iyer should make the cut. Pant will keep the wickets and bat at number five.
All-rounders of Team India – Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar
The conditions in the UAE will be good for the spinners. So, it should not be a surprise if India go in with two spinners. Ravindra Jadeja is the 3D player of the Indian squad right now. He can bat well, field well, and bowl brilliantly. Hardik Pandya will seal his slot if his bowls.
Washington Sundar and Yuzvendra Chahal will fight for one spot. Sundar has the upper hand here for two reasons. First, he is the highest-ranked Indian on ICC Rankings for Bowlers in T20Is. He is economical. Second, he can make a difference with the bat.
Bowlers – T Natarajan, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami
T Natarajan will be the leading left-arm pacer. He recently aggravated his injury. But Natarajan should be fit for the World Cup. No other left-arm pacer in India has impressed as much as Natarajan in the last ten months. He will partner with two right-arm pacers.
Jasprit Bumrah will surely take one of the two remaining places. For the last spot, there is a race between Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Shami is a wicket-taking bowler. But his IPL 2021 performance will determine his final position.
Possible playing XI of Team India:
Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (C), Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, T Natarajan, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami.
