In less than one week’s time, India’s T20 World Cup squad will be out. For a team, that last won an ICC trophy back in 2013, the 2024 T20 World Cup is a great opportunity for Rohit Sharma and Co. to end a long drought. Several experts have been giving their opinion on what the ideal 15-member India squad should look like. There is also 100 per cent consensus about two players who should be in the playing XI – Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah.
Former Indian cricket team star spinner Harbhajan Singh had an interesting suggestion regarding Virat Kohli’s batting order, depending on situation.
“I believe Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma should open for India, and Virat Kohli should come at no.3,” Harbhajan Singh told Star Sports.
“I would like to see a left-right combination at the top. If 6-7 overs are played, and if we have a player like Shivam Dube, he can walk in at no.3. Kohli can then walk in at 4. We have to take the horses-for-courses approach here, and there’s no disrespect in that. Kohli is a great player, whether he plays at no.3 or 4, the team comes first. Even if you ask him this question, he will say the team comes first.”
Another former India star Navjot Singh Sidhu advised Indian cricket team coach Rahul Dravid and the BCCI selectors to pick three spinners and as many quality fast bowlers.
“My straight advice to Rahul Dravid is that if you want to win this tournament, have five wicket-taking specialist bowlers, simple. The collapse of a team’s character stems from the compromise point. You have three spinner in Bishnoi, Kuldeep and Jadeja, who picks himself. Mayank Yadav if he is fit, walks into this side. Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar, Mohsin Khan should be the fast bowlers. ” Sidhu said on Star Sports.
“India have a lot of options and they shouldn’t compromise and pick guys who can bat and bowl a bit. You think of all the World Cup winning captains, they would’ve gone for quality bowling options. That’s the secret. If seven batters can’t win you the World Cup, even the 8th cannot do anything.”
