Rohit Sharma (L) and Virat Kohli (R) [BCCI Photo]
The nature of the New York pitch could dictate what combination India will field this evening. Let’s take a look at India’s best-playing XI.
India will open their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign against Ireland at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York, today at 8:00 PM IST and the big question will be what playing XI the Rohit Sharma-led team will field for the first game in a stadium they have not played before. Even though they did play a practice game here against Bangladesh, scoring 180, but the South Africa vs Sri Lanka T20 World Cup game is something both India and Ireland will be looking at. On a treacherous pitch, Anrich Nortje blew away the Lankans, and the Proteas, too, had trouble chasing a modest target of 78.
It is safe to say that the IND vs. IRE match may not be a high-scoring affair, and that could dictate what combination India will field this evening. Let’s take a look at India’s best-playing XI.
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Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav
The toss-up here for India will be whether to have Yashaswi Jaiswal’s left-hand option at the top of the order alongside Rohit Sharma and bring Virat Kohli down. But that is highly unlikely to happen with Kohli coming into the T20 World Cup 2024 on the back of a stellar IPL 2024 campaign that saw him with the Orange Cap. Even though the combination of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma opened together once in T20Is way back in 2021, there is no denying this is India’s best combination at the top of the order. Followed by Suryakumar Yadav, who will be India’s best bet at No.3; even though there is a train of thought to bump up Rishabh Pant to No.3 to give a left-handed option at the top of the order, it is doubtful India would take that route.
Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja
No.4 is set for a returning Pant, and even though Samson opened the innings in the warm-up game against Bangladesh, he managed just 1. But that won’t matter much as India must have been trying out some of their plans. Still, their original plan would be to have Pant at No.4. No.5 could be a floater if India gets off to a good start and is looking to close out the game. Shivam Dube at No.5, who pushed the selection door down with an incredible IPL 2024 season as the middle-order enforcer, could be a possibility. And if India find themselves in trouble and want a stable head in the middle for that time, it could be the vice-captain Hardik Pandya who could come at No.5. Either ways, having the two seam-bowling allrounders in the playing XI not only gives India plenty of bowling options, but they could also accommodate an extra spinner.
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Ravindra Jadeja at No.,7 provides batting depth to this Indian side. Still, more importantly, his accurate spin bowling will be India’s trump card on the unknown New York tracks and then weary Caribbean pitches that the team may encounter in the later stage of the tournaments.
Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal
With three allrounders more or less specific, India may need to think of adding one more. But if they do, Axar Patel can slot in at No.8, and add to that Kuldeep Yadav at No.9, India’s batting depth will be immense. But the toss will be between a specialist spin bowler or a spin-bowling allrounder. Considering Rohit Sharma wanted to have four spinners in the squad, it is likely that he will play with two specialist spinners Kuldeep and Yuzvendra Chahal, and have the third spin bowling option in Jadeja.
That, however, will leave India with two pacers—Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh. However, they will have the option of a third seamer in Pandya or Dube.
India’s Best Playing XI for IND vs IRE
Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal