(BCCI Credit)
As the T20 World Cup 2024, jointly hosted by the West Indies and the United States of America, draws near, former Australian captain Michael Clarke shared insights on why India is considered the top contender. In a recent podcast for ESPN Australia, Clarke emphasized India’s meticulous preparation for the tournament. He noted that while the Caribbean conditions may differ slightly from those in the subcontinent, there are similarities that could work in India’s favor. Clarke’s analysis underscores the confidence in India’s prospects, highlighting their adaptability and strategic readiness for the tournament.
“I mentioned it earlier, I think if you look at the favourites for this World Cup, it’s got to be India just because of the amount of cricket they’ve played. Their preparation is outstanding. The conditions are different in the Caribbean and America compared to India, but there are a lot of similarities, so their players should be used to that,” he said.
Addressing the composition of the Indian squad, Clarke observed that the inclusion of four spinners signifies a bold move by the team management. Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Yuzvendra Chahal form the spin quartet, raising questions about how captain Rohit Sharma intends to deploy them effectively during the tournament.
Clarke remarked, “India has taken a calculated risk with their squad, placing heavy emphasis on spin. While this approach differs greatly from Australia’s, in my experience with Caribbean conditions, the mastery of spin bowling and handling spinners could be pivotal for success. Thus, India emerges as the primary threat in my view for clinching the World Cup.”
Regarding the team’s preparation, Clarke highlighted a potential advantage for India. He noted that the absence of Indian players in the final stages of other competitions could provide a significant boost to the squad, ensuring their unity and cohesion right from the outset of training.
In contrast, Australia finds themselves without key players such as Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Travis Head in their current squad. Consequently, they had to navigate their warm-up matches without the presence of these prominent figures.
“When you talk about preparation, it’s interesting because there were three Australians in the IPL final and not one of the 15-member India squad in the final, but it could end up being a bit of a blessing in disguise. They’ve got the whole team together in New York early,” he concluded.
