As the Indian squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup was announced, Indian fans were stunned and happy at the same time.
The re-inclusion of Ashwin instilled a sense of joy amongst the cricket aficionados while most of the fans expected to witness Mohammed Siraj into the action. Sadly, for the fast bowler, he couldn’t make the cut and Natarajan’s injuries left him out too.
Rahul Chahar, Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan made it to the team riding on their recent performances. The World Cup most likely spelt doom for the spinning duo of Kul-Cha.
Despite all the additions and exclusions, Indian fans are pretty hopeful of finally laying their hands on a coveted ICC silverware after eight years of failure, rejection and trophy droughts.
In this story, we will take a quick look at five reasons why India can be the world champions in the tournament’s seventh edition after almost 14 years of their first triumph.
#1 A good blend of experience and youth
Given the exerting demands of the shottest format of the game, it is highly important for a team to strike the right balance between youth and experience. With the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohammed Shami, India has taken care of the experience part in a fine way. The introduction of SKY, Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan and Rahul Chahar balances it out as the younger guns will bring excitement and bravado to the wizened ranks of India.
#2 A strong batting order
One of the most emphatic prerequisites of T20 cricket is dynamic batting and India has a glut of it as their batting line-up comprises KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, SKY, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja. Even if one of these batters click, hell will come alive for the opposition bowlers.
#3 IPL just ahead of the T20 World Cup
Talk about knowing the conditions of the ground and the pitches, you won’t have something better than an one-month IPL just ahead of the biennial extravaganza. All the members of the Indian squad will be a part of the second half of the tournament and this will prepare them for any necessary hostilities that the grounds can offer.
#4 Two of the finest death bowlers in T20 cricket will take charge
Death bowling is an exceptionally crucial part of the shortest format of the game and India has the best of the lot. Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar will spearhead India’s bowling unit and we are all aware of the kind of catastrophe that this duo can spawn in the dying embers of the innings.
#5 MS Dhoni as the mentor
Talk about winning mentality and no one can indoctrinate it better in T20 cricket than the man who racked up crazy feats for India as a captain and as a player, MS Dhoni. His game readings, his comprehension of players and his far-sightedness will prove to be one of India’s biggest weapons off the pitch alongside the dynamics on the field from others.
