Kohli knows his playing XI but question will be who to play in Bhuvneshwar and Shardul: Parthiv Patel

Former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel and pacer Ajit Agarkar recently opened up regarding the ideal playing combination for the team for the T20 World Cup, where Virat Kohli-led India will kickstart their proceedings on October 24 against Pakistan in Dubai.

Ahead of the Super12s, India romped home to a dominating victory against England in the warm-up fixture held on October 18, chasing down 189 with an over to spare, on the back of scintillating half-centuries from Ishan Kishan and KL Rahul before finishing touches of Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya in the lower-order.

Parthiv Patel stated he is sure that Indian skipper Kohli knows the combination he wants to field but raised a question regarding who would India pick amongst Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shardul Thakur. Notably, Bhuvneshwar has not enjoyed the best of forms in the recent past and ended up leaking 54 runs in his quota against England in the warm-up game.

“I am sure Virat knows his playing XI and probably not the names, but I am sure he knows what combination he wants to go with. To me, the question will be, should you play Bhuvneshwar Kumar or Shardul Thakur,” Patel said on Star Sports’ show Cricket Connected.

“Probably Rohit Sharma & KL Rahul to open Virat at No.3, Suryakumar at No.4, Rishabh at No. 5, Hardik – even if he is not bowling, he is picked as someone who can finish the game – Ravindra Jadeja, Rahul Chahar, Shami, Bumrah and the last choice will be between Shardul Thakur and Bhuvneshwar Kumar,” he added.

Virat Kohli would like six bowling options: Ajit Agarkar

Patel’s co-panellist and former India pacer Ajit Agarkar spoke about the bowling lineup that India is likely to opt, reckoning that Kohli will go ahead with five bowlers only if the pitch has “something to offer” for the batters.

“Relatively certain that Virat Kohli would like six bowling options. If the pitch has something to offer, then you can perhaps take a chance with five bowlers, but if it’s a flat pitch, he would ideally want to go in with six bowlers with three seamers and they have lots of spin options.

“And Jadeja is an all-rounder whose batting has come out in leaps and bounds. So, you can treat him as one of the top-order batsmen. So, my six options – if Hadik Pandya is not to bowl – would be Bumrah, Shami, Shardul, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakravarthy and Rahul Chahar.”