(Credit BCCI)
As India gears up to kickstart their T20 World Cup 2024 journey against Ireland at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, all eyes are on the composition of Rohit Sharma’s squad for this crucial opener. Despite a prior practice match against Bangladesh at the same venue, where they posted a respectable score of 180, the recent clash between South Africa and Sri Lanka serves as a significant reference point for both teams.
The contest witnessed Anrich Nortje wreaking havoc on a challenging pitch, leading to the Lankans’ downfall. Even the Proteas found themselves struggling to chase down a modest target of 78. This sets the stage for a potentially low-scoring encounter between India and Ireland, emphasizing the importance of selecting the right combination for tonight’s match.
With these factors in mind, let’s delve into the potential lineup for India’s ideal XI.
Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav
India faces a decision regarding the batting order, particularly whether to include Yashaswi Jaiswal’s left-handed option alongside Rohit Sharma at the top, potentially moving Virat Kohli down. However, this scenario seems improbable given Kohli’s outstanding performance in the IPL 2024, where he clinched the Orange Cap. While Kohli and Sharma did open together in a T20I match back in 2021, it’s widely acknowledged that they form India’s most formidable opening partnership.
Following this duo, Suryakumar Yadav emerges as a strong candidate for the number three position. Despite suggestions to elevate Rishabh Pant to this spot, providing a left-handed option at the top, it’s uncertain whether India will adopt this strategy.
Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja
The returning Rishabh Pant seems a natural fit for the No.4 slot, despite Sanju Samson briefly experimenting with opening during the warm-up game against Bangladesh, yielding only 1 run. However, this performance may not weigh heavily in the team’s considerations, as India likely used the match to refine their strategies. Consequently, Pant is expected to reclaim his position at No.4.
The No.5 position could serve as a floating role, particularly if India establishes a strong start and seeks to consolidate their position. Shivam Dube emerges as a potential candidate for this spot, given his impressive performance as a middle-order enforcer during the IPL 2024 season. Conversely, if India encounters difficulties and requires stability in the middle overs, vice-captain Hardik Pandya could step in at No.5. Including both seam-bowling all-rounders in the playing XI not only offers India diverse bowling options but also allows for an additional spinner if needed.
Ravindra Jadeja’s presence at No.7 not only bolsters India’s batting depth but also highlights his significance as a precise spin bowler. His accuracy with the ball could prove crucial on the unfamiliar tracks of New York and the potentially worn-out pitches of the Caribbean, particularly in the later stages of the tournament.
Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal
With the inclusion of three all-rounders in the lineup, India may contemplate adding another to further strengthen their squad. If they opt for this route, Axar Patel could slot in at No.8, and with Kuldeep Yadav at No.9, India’s batting depth would be formidable. However, the decision hinges on choosing between a specialist spin bowler or a spin-bowling all-rounder.
Given Rohit Sharma’s preference for having four spinners in the squad, it’s probable that India will field two specialist spinners in Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, while Ravindra Jadeja provides the third spin-bowling option.
This configuration would leave India with two pacers in Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh. Nonetheless, they retain the flexibility of deploying a third seamer in either Hardik Pandya or Shivam Dube, depending on the match situation.
Playing XI against Ireland
Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, and Yuzvendra Chahal.
