India's predicted playing XI for ICC T20 World Cup 2021

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2021 on Wednesday (8 September). The Chetan Sharma-led selection panel had a few surprising omissions in Shikhar Dhawan, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Krunal Pandya. While it also had some surprising picks in Ravi Ashwin and Axar Patel. Surprising because they haven’t played white-ball cricket for a long time and were out of favor due to Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, and more recently Washington Sundar playing well for the past two years. But off-spinners Sundar’s untimely finger injury meant that a potential all-rounder’s slot opened up and the selectors took a wise decision in end by trying to include utility players in Axar and Ashwin. Considering the pitches in UAE will favor spin the need to include five spinners gives India a balance to the squad. The selectors have also included the ever-improving Suryakumar Yadav, Rahul Chahar. Both made significant contributions during the limited-overs series against Sri Lanka and earned the right to be in the team. Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant is the designated wicketkeeper-batter with Ishan Kishan as the backup. Bhuvneshwar Kumar returns to the squad and Ravindra Jadeja is also one of the spinners. With the announcement of a strong squad, we at CricTracker have decided to form India’s strongest predicted playing XI for the big event. India’s predicted playing XI for ICC T20 World Cup 2021 1. Rohit Sharma Rohit Sharma. (Photo Source: Twitter) Rohit Sharma has been one of the best opening batsmen globally in white-ball cricket currently. The right-handed batsman has been in fantastic touch of late with the willow. Speaking of numbers in T20I cricket, Rohit Sharma has aggregated 2,864 runs in 103 T20I innings. He is only behind skipper Virat Kohli in terms of batsmen with the most runs in T20 international cricket. Besides, Rohit has scored four centuries and 21 fifties in this format. A few fans have even opined that the team management should assign Rohit Sharma captaincy ahead of the T20 World Cup. While Virat Kohli is unlikely to lose his captaincy, Rohit would surely feature in the team as a specialist batsman. Also, he will support Virat in the leadership group. 2. KL Rahul KL Rahul. (Photo Source: Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) In-form KL Rahul has achieved much success as an opening batsman in the T20 format. Since the tournament will take place in the UAE conditions, both Rohit and KL Rahul will likely fire. KL Rahul has 1557 runs in 45 T20I innings and he can be explosive right from the first ball of the match in the powerplay overs. His strike rate of over 140 can be a nightmare to the opposition bowlers. Moreover, KL can do exceedingly well on slow UAE wickets and he has vast IPL experience as well. He is one of the players to watch out for going into the marquee event. 3. Virat Kohli (c) Virat Kohli. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) Virat Kohli is the world’s most successful T20I batsman. Many fans would feel that the number four position might not be the best for Virat Kohli. However, looking at the options available with the team now, captain Kohli might have to bat at three in the ICC T20 World Cup. KL Rahul is much more comfortable while batting at the opening position. If the team management is happy to keep Rahul at the top spot, Virat Kohli could bat at his regular number three slot. The Indian cricket team captain has 3159 runs in an 89-match T20I career. The right-handed batsman has aggregated those runs with his batting average being 52.65. 4. Suryakumar Yadav Suryakumar Yadav. (Photo Source: Twitter) The Mumbai batter has seamlessly made the transition from domestic cricket to international cricket without breaking a sweat. After months of agonizing wait, Yadav finally got to make his debut against England in the T20I series and he didn’t disappoint as he welcomed pacer Jofra Archer for a six off the first ball as he nonchalantly dispatched him to fine leg. Since then, the right-hand batter has not looked back and solidified the reputation in the team by playing a fearless brand of cricket. Yadav’s ability to play spin superbly was also one of the clinchers for the selectors to name him in the squad for the T20 World Cup. Also, he can be flexible in the batting order and can bat numbers three, four, and five. Predominantly he has batted in the same position for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League. So, it is almost certain he will play in that role. This position is also one of the vital ones in T20 cricket as you are either building an innings or scoring some brisk runs to keep up with the run rate. Yadav can change gears quickly and is perfect to don that role during the T20 World Cup. 5. Rishabh Pant (wk) Rishabh Pant. (Photo by Surjeet Yadav/Getty Images) If there is one batter in the Indian team that has turned a corner in the past six months or so then it is not wrong to take Rishabh Pant’s name. The maverick batter started it during the Test series against Australia and displayed his phenomenal ball striking skills during the T20I series against England too. Pant has stormed back to the team by letting his bat do all the talking. The southpaw’s ability to bat aggressively in any period makes him a dangerous customer. The shortest format of the game is all about game changers, and Pant is right up there. Although his T20I record is not that staggering yet, his strike rate of 123.07 in 33 was significant enough to be in the 15-member squad. Also, Pant is only one of the left-handers certain at the top six, which makes his case a bit stronger. The 23-year-old will also get to team up with his idol MS Dhoni and that will be beneficial in how he approaches his innings during the global event. 6. Hardik Pandya Hardik Pandya. (Photo Source: Twitter) All-rounder Hardik Pandya will be the key to India’s success at the ICC T20 World Cup 2021. Pandya was just a few months old in the international arena when he represented the country in the 2016 T20 World Cup. However, he is a much more matured player now. The Baroda-based player has been a match-winner for his team in the game’s shortest format. Pandya is an impact player, who can turn the momentum in his team’s favor by his batting, bowling, and fielding. He aims to recover to full fitness until the ICC T20 World Cup next year. If he can bowl four overs of medium pace in between, Hardik will be a great asset for the team in this competition. 7. Ravindra Jadeja Ravindra Jadeja. (Photo Source: Twitter) Ravindra Jadeja’s stocks have rosin multi-fold during the past couple of seasons. He is also a worthy contender to play in the T20 World Cup playing XI as an all-rounder. This season for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Jadeja was used as a finisher by Dhoni, and he didn’t disappoint his captain by scoring a sparkling 60 odd run against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Jadeja also is a gun fielder and saves more runs most often than not. His bowling is very economical, which makes batters to be aggressive and lose a wicket in the process. Jadeja also provides the team with an extra left-hand option. With Hardik Pandya being a designated finisher in the team, Jadeja’s power hitting at the end will enable India to finish well in the innings or win a potential thriller of a game. 8. Ravi Ashwin Ravi Ashwin. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images) The biggest surprise inclusion in the T20 World Cup squad and probably the smartest. Ravi Ashwin comes with a plethora of experience and is only one of the five spinners to have the ability to take the ball away from the left-hand batters. Ashwin is a canny operator and always looks to take wickets in any given circumstances. His smart variations coupled with handy batting skills made selectors have him in the team for the T20 World Cup. Also, during the past two seasons, he has played brilliantly for Delhi Capitals and has enjoyed bowling in power plays. Yes, he has not played international T20I cricket since 2017 but trust the off-spinner to deliver the goods when the skipper throws in the ball. With India opting to play at least one of the off-spinners Ashwin can probably shoulder that responsibility. He would also have a point or two to prove to the selectors too. 9. Rahul Chahar Rahul Chahar. (Photo Source: Twitter/BCCI) The leg-spinner has grabbed whatever opportunities he has had in the past year or so. Burst onto the limelight playing for Mumbai Indians, Chahar’s fast googlies and a good economy rate make him stand out from the rest. He bowled wonderfully well during the six white-ball matches against Sri Lanka and picked up seven wickets. Chetan Sharma said that the main reason Chahar is in the team rather than Chahal is his ability to bowl a bit faster. The slow and sluggish pitches in the UAE will suit his style of bowling. But it remains to be seen if he makes it to the playing XI. India have gone with spin-bowling all-rounder in the past and if they include Chahar in the playing XI, then they might have to compromise on that part. In 66 T20 matches, the leg-spinner has picked up 82 wickets at a good average of 21.36. His economy rate is also impressive as it is below 8. So Chahar is also good at keeping opposition batters under a tight leash. 10. Jasprit Bumrah Jasprit Bumrah. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) Jasprit Bumrah had joined the Indian cricket team along with Hardik Pandya in early 2016. Just like his Mumbai Indians teammate, Bumrah played his first ICC event on home soil in 2016. The right-arm pacer became India’s number one all-format bowler in no time. He has been in tremendous form, and the fans can back him to bring his ‘A’ game to the table at the ICC T20 World Cup 2021. For the record, Jasprit has played 49 T20I games, picking up 59 wickets for the nation. His economy rate of 6.42 at home is slightly better than his rate of 6.88 in T20Is played outside India. Notably, Jasprit’s bowling average and strike rate are superior outside India than on home soil. Still, his numbers are much better than the other fast bowling options available with the team management. 11. Bhuvneshwar Kumar Bhuvneshwar Kumar. (Photo Source: Getty Images) Bhuvneshwar Kumar immediately made his presence after returning from injury against the limited-overs series against England. He was India’s most economical bowler in the team strangulating English batters in the power play and death overs. Kumar also led the attack in that series in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. Kumar is only one of the fours seamers selected in the squad and has vast experience in playing the shortest format. He has taken 50 wickets so far in 51 T20I matches at a good average of 25.10. But it is his economy rate of 6.90 runs per over is that stands out. With T20 cricket being more of a slam-bang of cricket, Kumar’s incredible control with his line and lengths will make life difficult for batters. Over the past two years, his batting has also improved, and he has shown enough composure to score handy runs lower down and support his batter at the other end during tense run-chases.

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