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India appears weary going into this T20 World Cup. They are aiming for different outcomes, but they are essentially doing the same thing they have been doing for the past few World Cups. Their batting lineup could very well end up looking just like the one they used the previous time (in 2022), which left them with too few players to defend against England in the semi-final. or, for that matter, against South Africa.
One may argue that the past 1.5 years have not been particularly productive. However, there have been minor adjustments to the strategy and structure that give India a good chance to advance to the last four.
Of course, there are two major additions to the team this time around: Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah, whose efficiency allows them to accomplish what no one else in the world does, giving any totals India may be posting more weight. Secondly, Virat Kohli is playing the best T20 cricket of his career. He made an almost existential shift from wanting to bat long, which suits him in every other format, to wanting to make an impact and believing in those who would come after him in T20s.
Shivam Dube and Yashasvi Jaiswal, two left-hand hitters, were the true newcomers, and they delighted the leadership as much as the spectators.
India’s batting has been longing for some freshness, and Dube and Jaiswal provide it. India will likely have to make their hardest decision at this point because just one of them can fit in the XI.
Only two situations remain in which both Dube and Jaiswal can participate, as all six places have been taken. The team management has Jadeja and Dube for four overs in the first, along with some extra cover for a mainline bowler who is having trouble. They call for a total of eight overs from Jadeja, Hardik Pandya, and Dube in the second over, when they bat Jadeja at No. 8.
India is more interested in Dube than in Jaiswal. They really need a left-hand hitter like Dube in the middle order because he is the spin disruptor and true X-factor. Dube proved to be an even more proficient short ball batsman than he was in the recently finished Indian Premier League 2024, making it difficult for the bowlers to stop him. He may receive the same level of autonomy that the Chennai Super Kings granted him.
However, this gives sides free reign to bowl left-arm spin with the new ball, which is one issue with it. If Dube plays before Jaiswal, Rohit and Kohli will have to open the proceedings.
However, it is difficult for Rohit and Kohli to order left-arm spinners around. Despite his significant progress against this type of bowling, Kohli’s least preferred matchup is still left-arm spin, as he has a strike rate of 131 this IPL compared to 155 overall. Although Rohit may attempt to strike out, his average and strike rate against left-arm spin in the IPL were significantly lower than his overall statistics.
India’s best chance now is for Rohit to take wickets at an even cheaper cost than he has been doing, either by taking the new ball or dying trying. In the event that Suryakumar arrives and disrupts the match-ups, they will be willing to forfeit this wicket in an effort to get off to a fast start.
While it may not be ideal, the top seven players—Kohli, Rohit, Suryakumar, Samson/Rishabh Pant, Dube, Pandya, Jadeja/Axar—are the most feasible and realistic options. If they use both of the left-arm spinners and give up a more aggressive bowler, they can extend this further.
However, there is one option that is not as outlandish as it first appears. One untested facet of the batting of two ODI greats could be investigated if this doesn’t work out, particularly if Dube’s form isn’t great: Rohit or Kohli as a middle-order hitter. Should there be a collapse, one of the players in the top order is ready to play a game more suited to their individual personalities. They play with fearlessness.
And since Kohli has already found his form as an opener, Rohit is the more likely contender should such a shift be made. Though admittedly not the best Plan A given this squad’s makeup, this one is more in line with B than C.