4

Feb

 Now Heading Towards T20 World Cup

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India played the World Test Championship in 2023 at Lord’s. In 2025, we failed to make it to the finals having suffered surprise home defeats.

India made it to the final of One day World Cup in 2023 undefeated but suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the final.  It redeemed itself by winning the Champions Trophy in 2024-25 but we have just lost a home series to New Zealand.

It should serve as a sobering thought even as we head into T20 World Cup on a relatively high note – the dazzling return of Ishan Kishan, captain Suryakumar Yadav back among runs and the bowling attack looking pretty strong for the sub continent conditions.

Sobering because having won the World Cup in 2024 and achieved the pinnacle of glory, we have to be prepared for statistical probability of not winning again.

Otherwise, the New Zealand series confirmed our status as a champion side in T20s and also showed that if we lose one player, there is another one who can step up and excel. Ishan’s stupendous return not only made look selectors foolish for having ignored him for last couple of years but also complicated selection of final XI when Tilak Verma returns. Same in bowling where Ravi Bishnoi instantly made mark when given opportunity although he is not in line for a spot in the XI in the World Cup.

India is placed in an easy group - Pakistan, USA, Namibia and Netherlands. Pakistan has already forfeited its match making it even easier for India – therefore the passage to Super Eights is assured.

The real competition begins then.

How well equipped are we for the challenge?

As India heads into the T20 World Cup, recent successes and setbacks offer both confidence and caution. After missing the 2025 World Test Championship final and losing the 2023 ODI World Cup final, India redeemed itself by winning the Champions Trophy but then suffered a home series loss to New Zealand. Encouraging signs include Ishan Kishan’s strong comeback, Suryakumar Yadav’s return to form, and a solid bowling attack suited to subcontinent conditions.
Front Foot Forward
By Anil Jauhri
However, injuries to Tilak Verma and Washington Sundar, inconsistent selection logic, and Sanju Samson’s poor form raise concerns. Despite being placed in an easy group, real challenges will emerge in later stages. Key dilemmas remain over the batting combination, wicketkeeper choice, and balance between spinners and all-rounders. Even so, India appears largely settled and capable of sustaining a winning run.

The recent T20 series, despite the successes, has thrown up some challenges.

The first is injuries – there is uncertainty around Tilak Verma and Washington Sundar due to injuries. We named Ravi Bishnoi and Shreyas Iyer as replacements against New Zealand – so we know the alternatives.

Bishnoi got a chance to play and did well to strengthen his case.

But why did we not play Shreyas Iyer when we had a chance? It remains a mystery and provides further evidence of inconsistency in selections and logic.

If Iyer was replacement for Tilak, he should have played. But the captain said Ishan was selected earlier – what was he selected as – back up opener or back up wicket keeper or back up batsman or all of them! And even when Ishan did not play in Vizag, Iyer was not played and instead a bowler was picked. That seems unfair to Iyer – almost as if some one was trying that he does not succeed and adds to selection headaches

The failure of Sanju Samson was the area of concern - now it is being said by the captain that there is a choice to be made between Sanju and Ishan for opener’s slot.

India has 3 easy games to begin with – if you play Sanju, in all probability he would score runs but when we encounter the biggies in next round, can we trust him with the current form?

If selection was to be made post India-NZ series, Sanju Samson would be facing an axe but since the World Cup team had already been announced, he survives.

On current performance, he should be replaced by Ishan Kishan both as opener and wicket keeper and Tilak (or Iyer as his replacement) should take the batting slot in the middle.

This fixes the top 5 – Abhishek, Ishan, Tilak, Yadav, Rinku.

As for bowling, it should be certain that we would go in with two seamers – Bumrah and Arshdeep. Unless someone decides to push Harshit in claiming he is an all rounder. Entirely likely given the inconsistency being shown in selections. But he has been very expensive!!! Even if he has picked up some wickets.

The question would be – do we go with 2 or 3 spinners – Varun, Axar and Kuldeep.

In Indian and even in Sri Lankan conditions, 3 spinners may be a better option which means there is only one all rounder slot – which is Hardik Pandya. India did use the 3 spinner option in Champions Trophy successfully.

But will we then leave Shivam Dube out?

Quite a dilemma!!!

If we go be the NZ series, the indications are that Dube would be in likely at the expense of Yadav.

The Indian team looks quite settled and in fine fettle except a couple of choices to be made. The record shows that even with a selection flaw  or two, India can still maintain a winning streak and let us hope it continues that way in the forthcoming T20 World Cup. (A cricket buff from his student days, Anil Jauhri is   ex-CEO, National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies and an international authority on standardization.)

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