T20 WC 2022: The Real Contender #2 - India
With the best W/L ratio in 2022 by far and the fact that they have played more T20Is than any of the top cricketing nations, India are shaping up well for the upcoming World Cup.
Batting
India’s ability to score quickly against pace is one of their strengths. Among the top 7 batters (that’s expected to start), only KL Rahul (at 137) strikes at less than 150 versus pace. The extra batters that India will carry are Rishabh Pant and Deepak Hooda and they too have the ability to score rapidly against pace. Spin bowling, on the other hand, has troubled India’s batter a lot more.
Virat Kohli’s inability to score quickly against spin (SR 114) is a concern, but in recent times he has shown more intent. KL Rahul (SR 129) and Rohit Sharma (SR 132) have also done much better against spin, but it will certainly be a strategy that opposition teams will use to limit India’s totals. While Suryakumar Yadav hasn’t played in Australia before, he can handle bounce and plays well square of the wicket on both sides. With strikes rates of 180+ v/s pace of 180+, 160+ against spin and the ability to hit a boundary every 3.8 balls, SKY will be the central figure in India’s campaign at the World Cup.
Hardik Pandya and Dinesh Karthik are superb finishers lower down the order with the ability to chase or set high targets. In fact, since 2021 India have a superb 14-2 record chasing totals in T20Is.
While the lack of left-handers in the top 7 is a problem, they can bring in Axar Patel or Rishabh Pant to counter that. Overall, there’s enough depth and talent in that batting line-up to setup good totals and get them through the knockouts.
Bowling and all-rounders
The injury of Ravindra Jadeja has not helped the balance of the side. But Hardik Pandya has been in great form post his return and has delivered with bat and ball. In addition, Axar Patel has shown he is more of a wicket-taker than Jadeja has been in T20Is and he can score some quick runs at the end as well. While there isn’t really a third true all-rounder in the squad, Ashwin and Harshal Patel can occasionally get some quick runs as well. Ideally, India would love to have 1 of their top 4 batters to be a part-time bowler but that’s unlikely to be the case unless Deepak Hooda replaces someone due to injury.
From a bowling perspective, Jasprit Bumrah’s absence is a big blow. He is the most complete bowler in World Cup and miles ahead of anyone else in limited-overs cricket. With Bhuvneshwar and Deepak Chahar (in the reserves), India are solid for the PowerPlay. Both of these pacers swing the ball early in the innings and get a lot of wickets. Youngster Arshdeep Singh will likely be used as a death-over specialist since his economy of under 9 in the final 5 is outstanding. In a couple of recent games, he’s gone for a runs at the death but his figures in the IPL and in T20Is show his worth.
Harshal Patel has largely been used by RCB and India as a middle and death over specialist but his recent form in the series versus Australia and South Africa has been a concern. Patel went at nearly 11 an over taking just 3 wickets in these recent 6 games and wasn’t landing his tough to pick slower ball as well as before. This means India are probably unsure who will be Arshdeep’s bowling partner at the death and that is India’s only unsolved question. My bet would be on Bhuvi and Hardik bowling 1 over each. Despite a couple of poor 19th overs during Asia Cup, Bhuvi has the ability to execute yorkers as well as wide yorkers as he has shown over his long career in the IPL and for India.
From a spin perspective, Yuzi Chahal will likely be India’s main spinner with Ashwin as back-up. With batters having played him a lot more, Chahal’s economy rate hasn’t been as solid as that in his early years but he continues to take wickets and has 26 T20I wickets at a strike-rate of just 19. He has done well in Australia and is pretty dependable from overs 7-16. The one spinner I would loved to see in the World Cup is Ravi Bishnoi. With his variations and quick action, Bishnoi has been economical and even taking wickets in the handful of chances he has recieved. R Ashwin’s ability to bowl in nearly every phase of the innings has probably helped his case ahead of Bishnoi.
Form
Defeats to Pakistan and New Zealand in the group stage last year meant India was out of the T20 World Cup without evening making the semis. Recently, they failed to make the Finals of the Asia Cup. On top of that, injuries to Jasprit Bumrah and Ravi Jadeja, along with the inconsistent form of Harshal Patel, KL Rahul, and (until recently) Virat Kohli have had the supporters on edge.
But the truth is, India has the best W/L ratio in 2022 by far and they have played more T20Is than any of the top cricketing nations. In addition, India’s group will consist of Pakistan, South Africa, and Bangladesh, along with West Indies and Namibia (the last 2 to be confirmed based on qualifying groups). While Pakistan has beaten India twice in the last 3 T20Is they played, the toss played its part and the matches were in UAE where Pakistan have a lot of experience. In Australia, there’s a good chance that India will go unbeaten in that group and (although T20 is a fickle format) probably even make the Finals.
NOTE: Unless otherwise mentioned, all stats are based on T20Is from 2020 to Oct 4th 2022.