India's Best Squad for World T20 2022.

Is India's Asia Cup Squad going to play in the ICC World T20?

Definitely Not!.

Ms Dhoni might have bid adieu to International Cricket a couple of years back but this was his response when asked about whether it would be his last IPL appearance.

However time has flown pretty soon and now we are at a junction where the 2022 World T20 is only a couple of months away and Team India is still waiting to find the perfect fifteen that would take on the field in Australia.

The squad of the Asia Cup which was announced last week has thrown in a few new questions about how are the selectors planning their way ahead for the World T20.

So today we at Fantasy Arena will give you the most honest review about how India should select their final fifteen.

The wounds of the 2021 World T20 debacle are still fresh and it's effects are still haunting Team India. Infact, the 2021 World T20 made India take quite a few brave steps.

From relieving Virat Kohli from captaincy role to make Rohit Sharma, a skipper in all formats, BCCI has not only changed the leader but has also brought in Rahul Dravid as head coach in place of Ravi Shastri.

These all bold moves have been taken keeping the T20 World Cup in mind and the team selection too commands so. Post the World Cup, India has auditioned as many as 31 players for the marquee event but there still remains a question who makes the final cut.

India has rarely fielded a set playing eleven post 2021 T20 World Cup, a move that can well backfire as per the Team dynamics is concerned.

India were slated to play as many as 22 T20 Internationals ahead of the World T20 and building a set team would have come very handy. With the Asia Cup ahead followed by 6 T20s (3 against Australia and 3 against South Africa), BCCI and Team India will need to put down their experimental hats and zero in to the final fifteen that would take the flight to Australia.

The 2016 World T20 preparation saw India pick a 15 man squad and the side played the Asia Cup and the T20s in Australia and also played the T20 World Cup following next.

India should have opted for a similar strategy in the Asia Cup selection but a few selection calls have definitely surprised many.

So let us address the points below and see what changes could have been implemented.

Firstly, let us have a look at the India's final squad for Asia Cup.

Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul (VC), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (Wk), Dinesh Karthik (Wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan.

Standbys: Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel and Deepak Chahar.

Dropped: Ishan Kishan, Mohammad Shami, Sanju Samson, Jasprit Bumrah (Injured), Harshal Patel (Injured).

As discussed above we could see that even after trying numerous combinations, the final sample size stands to 23 Players which again is a bit higher.

So let us discuss:

Which spinners finally make it to the T20 World Cup Squad?

India has named 4 spinners in their Asia Cup Squad namely R. Ashwin, Jadeja, Chahal and Ravi Bishnoi. Although India are scheduled to play the Asia Cup in spin friendly conditions but they might not require the same in Australia and 1 out of Ravi Ashwin or Ravi Bishnoi might get the axe as Jadeja and Chahal are likely starters. Bishnoi is probably the one to face the axe as he offers similar attributes to Chahal whereas Ravi Ashwin might too fail to make the cut if Deepak Hooda gets to roll his arms. Axar Patel understoodably remains the Backup to Jadeja.

Who opens the innings with Rohit Sharma?

The opening partnership is another concern that remains for India. India have named in Kl Rahul as the likely partner for Rohit in Asia Cup but the question still remains who goes berserk from ball 1? Although there might be a temptation to play Rishabh Pant as an opener given his left handed attribute but with Kl and Rohit at helm it looks highly improbable. Ishan Kishan's slump in form has made the selection a bit easier.

Does India go in with Hardik at 6 or 7?

Hardik Pandya's regain to full fitness will definitely boost India's chances but it remains to be seen whether Hardik goes in as the 5th bowling option or the 6th. If Hardik plays as the 5th bowler it means he bats at 7 which allows India to let Dinesh Karthik bat at 6. But the situation will get a bit tricky if India lets Hardik be the 6th bowling option.

Who plays in the Middle Order?

Taking a cue from the above question the obvious question that arises is who gets to play in the middle order. Virat Kohli is a likely starter at 3 followed by Surya Kumar Yadav at 4. However the conundrum begins at number 5 and 6 with the likes of Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik auditioning for the two positions along with Hardik if India goes in with 5 regular bowlers. Based on form and temperament accomodating Pant in the middle order looks a bit tricky. Deepak Hooda is another name that is likely to get an exclusion.

Who gets to keep behind the wickets?

India's Asia Cup Squad boasts of 2 wicket keepers in the form of Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pant. However playing both might not be a good idea as it will hamper the Team's Dynamics. Based on form DK may have the upper hand but with age in his side, Pant makes a strong case too.

Who makes way for Bumrah and who are the pacers that makes it to the World Cup Team?

Jasprit Bumrah is ruled out of Asia Cup due to injury and is a sure starter once he returns. Bhubaneswar Kumar too has made the new ball bowler slot his own Avesh Khan is the likely one to be replaced as Arshdeep Singh brings in the left arm angle with him. However there is a likely toss up between Harshal Patel, Deepak Chahar and Avesh Khan about who boards the flight to Australia. Also the selectors may take a U turn and bring in Mohammad Shami in to the mix.

Now let us have a look at the Final 15 for the T20 World Cup.

Rohit Sharma (C).

Kl Rahul (Vc).

Virat Kohli.

Surya Kumar Yadav.

Rishabh Pant (Wk).

Hardik Pandya.

Dinesh Karthik.

Ravindra Jadeja.

Bhubaneswar Kumar.

Jasprit Bumrah.

Yuzvendra Chahal.

Subs:

Deepak Hooda.

Arshdeep Singh.

Avesh Khan/Harshal Patel/Deepak Chahar.

Shreyas Iyer/ Ishan Kishan.

Going by the trend this squad looks like the final squad that will take the flight to Australia.