'We should not comment on whether we should play with three spinners or two spinners' - Harbhajan Singh on India's World Cup combination

With anticipation building for the India vs Pakistan clash at the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, former Indian cricketing maestro Harbhajan Singh shared his insights on the unique challenges facing the Indian team.

Speaking exclusively in a special segment, Harbhajan discussed the uncertainties surrounding pitch conditions in New York and the strategic considerations for India's playing XI. Harbhajan emphasized the unpredictability of the pitches, stating,

"No one knows about the pitches. To be honest, those who are making it also don't know how long it will last, how much heat and water it can take, how firm these pitches are, or what the bounce will be on this pitch. Once the practice matches are over, we'll get an idea of the pitches and what should be the right combination for our side," while speaking exclusively in a special Star Sports Press Room to preview India vs Pakistan in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup

Furthermore, the 'Turbanator' advocated for flexibility in team selection based on a thorough assessment of the conditions post-practice matches and said that we should not comment on whether we should play with three spinners or two spinners.

Also Read: India Squad for T20 World Cup 2024: Complete Player List and Squad Details

"So, we should not comment on whether we should play with three spinners or two spinners. I think the team should be formed once the conditions are properly assessed. Overall, I think to start with, we should go ahead with our five best bowlers. Kuldeep and Chahal should definitely play. Three seamers, including Bumrah, and any two from the rest of the options should play. When it comes to batting, we have a lot of options. But the bottom line is that no matter what the pitch is, we will have to adapt to it," Bhajji added.

India to play only one warm-up game before T20 World Cup 2024

India's preparation for the T20 World Cup includes just one warm-up game, a departure from previous tournaments where they typically played two. The decision for a solitary match, slated to be held in New York, has sparked speculation. While the exact rationale remains undisclosed, it's believed that the Indian players, fatigued from extensive IPL commitments and travel, are reluctant to endure additional journeys for practice matches.

Warm-up matches hold significant commercial value and are often televised. In 2015, an India-Australia warm-up encounter was broadcast in India but not in Australia, highlighting the substantial interest in these fixtures.

While most teams are set to play two warm-up games each, England and Pakistan, engaged in a bilateral series, have limited time for such fixtures. With the World Cup set to commence on June 1, warm-up games are expected around May 25-26.

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India's departure for New York, where they will play their initial league matches, is scheduled for May 25 and 26. The team's matches in New York are slated for June 5 (vs Ireland), June 9 (vs Pakistan), and June 12 (vs United States), followed by a fixture in Florida against Canada on June 15 before heading to the West Indies for the Super Eight stage.