Solving the combination puzzle will be a primary concern for the team management once India’s campaign against Pakistan begins on Sunday.
As if it was no big deal to bid farewell to Ravi Shastri and his two trusted coaching staff at the end of the T20 World Cup, Virat Kohli announced his decision to step down as T20 captain after the tournament.
With this, Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been roped in as a mentor and this means that Indian fans will expect nothing less than to repeat India’s pride in the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2007.
It will be as difficult for Kohli’s cavalrymen to replicate Dhoni’s daredevils as running a marathon mid-day on the rocking sand dunes of empty quarters.
Host, but not at home
Despite being the host – the BCCI was forced to organize the tournament in the UAE due to the pandemic – India will have to deal with the challenges of playing in a neutral zone.
It should come as no surprise that India opted for an optional practice session two days before their opener at the ICC Academy on Friday afternoon.
With all the Indian team members in similar conditions in the second leg of the Indian Premier League, adapting to the slick surfaces and scorching heat will not be too much of a problem.
However, it will be a huge question for India to find the ideal combination at the park for their tournament-opener vs Pakistan on Sunday.
With Hardik Pandya unlikely to bowl during the tournament, it will be interesting to see how India ensure a sixth bowling option.
The late inclusion of Shardul Thakur indicates that he is considered an easy option as a fast bowler with a golden arm and willow. But this will confirm Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s place in the team.
balancing
In the batting department too, striking the right balance of right-left combination and ensuring that India don’t waste the middle overs will be a difficult task.
With Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav in the top four and Ravindra Jadeja at No 7 as the primary all-rounder, India will have to pick two between Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan and Hardik-Gan.
If India can solve the combination puzzle on Sunday, it can look forward to a repeat of 2007. And with the complexities involved, the likes of Shastri and Dhoni will be extended for consideration over the next three weeks.
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