INDIA’S T20 WORLD CUP SQUAD.

Virat Kohli led side will begin their quest for an ICC trophy with the T20 World Cup that’s scheduled to commence in a few days time in UAE, India have announced a strong 15+3 man squad for the T20 World Cup. How can it be an Indian squad that has no surprises, there’s actually many than one expected.

Late yesterday one’s the squad was announced limelight feel on a few names, one was MS Dhoni who’ll be back with the Indian team as mentor, then Ravichandran Ashwin who’s back in the squad after 4 long years and Yuzvendra Chahal who’s failed to make the cut and that’s come out very unexpectedly.

Jay Shah had proposed the mentorship role to MS Dhoni in Dubai and he’d accepted the role, Jay Shah then conveyed the same to Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravi Shastri and all three have welcomed the opinion knowing what MS Dhoni the mentor brings to the team.

INDIA’S T20 WORLD CUP SQUAD : Virat Kohli (C), Rohit Sharma (VC), KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Rahul Chahar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohd Shami.

Reserve players – Shreyas Iyer, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar.

Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan are considered for the opening role with Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul being the first choice openers, that clears talks of Virat being the opener, Virat Kohli will be back at no 3 pacing India’s innings. Ishan is consider as an opener and a floater, so Ishan remains an option in the middle order as well, but fits in one’s absence. There was clear uncertainty over Shikhar Dhawan’s name in the squad and with a nod he fails to feature in the 18.

Middle order has been the strength of the team with likes of Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya, all experienced faces. Middle order is a department that the team will bank on for big finishes and invaluable cameos. Hardik Pandya being the only pace all-rounder is expected to bowl his complete kota during games. Reserve’s there’s Shreyas Iyer, if required a strong replacement, it’s all strength to strength.

Spin, a vital part of games in UAE, India have picked as many as 5 spinners in the mix and here unfolds a couple of big surprises, Yuzvendra Chahal missing out and Ravichandran Ashwin making it to the squad, Ravi Ashwin’s name was a talk and was in scheme of things so not very surprising of him being named but the talk always was who along with a Chahal to bowl and turns out that Chahal’s failed to make the cut which is a shocker especially with the experience he holds of playing big games. Varun Chakravarthy was the talk and has made it. Rahul Chahar was a talk in reserve’s and since there’s no Chahal it’s very obvious of him making it to the 15. Axar Patel too has made the cut, wasn’t much in talks but has been with the squad and undoubtedly has been performing well and is much of a verity being the left arm off spinner, Krunal Pandya was with the team and is a better batter but the demand looked to be of a better bowler, so Axar Patel. Last and the very obvious name Ravindra Jadeja who holds his spot in the 15 untouched.

Ravichandran Ashwin was picked as a bowler who can bowl in power play and someone who on dry and slow pitches on grounds with big dimensions will be handy and a big bonus, Ashwin’s tactically very smart and will make it count big if he finds a spot in the XI as that for now is not very certain.

Pace department, India somewhere look a bit behind as they stick to just three pacers in Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami. There’s a possibility of playing 2 pacers as Hardik is fit to bowl his 4 and with a spin heavy squad three spinners are expected to play upfront. Reserve there’s Deepak Chahar and Shardul Thakur, of the two one was expected to be in the squad but both find themselves is reserve’s list.

India will play arch-rivals Pakistan on the 24th of October to get their T20 World Cup campaign underway, a week gap before they play New Zealand on 31st of October and then meet Afghanistan on 3rd of November. India’s last two group stage games will be against B1 and A2 (teams who qualify to super 12 after round 1 fixtures) on 5th and 8th of November respectively.

India will, are and always have been favourites going into any tournament and do remain, podium finish as always is on cards. The big day pressure and the work off field has to go well for India for them to get their hand on the T20 trophy.