India WTC & England Squad
The Indian team for the WTC just got announced recently which is as follows
India’s squad: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (Captain), Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), R. Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohd. Shami, Md. Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, KL Rahul (subject to fitness clearance), Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper; subject to fitness clearance).
Standby players: Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, Arzan Nagwaswalla
Well this a pretty balanced and good squad but its also kind of an interesting side with no real middle order depth, no Bhuvi, no Kuldeep and no Hardik Pandya as well.
I feel like a fast bowler could have been dropped, probably Shardul for a middle order batsman thou there are few one can really think of right now that can get into the side and have some experience in the international circuit but I do have a gut feel they Indian team will play five proper bowlers including both Ashwin and Jadeja
I also feel for Kuldeep Yadav from being touted as the spinner in foreign conditions to not even being selected. Sundar being in over Kuldeep is a bit surprising even though he has been decent and Kuldeep has been out of form, I personally feel that he is not a top tier test match bowler (he is a very good T20 bowler thou) and that Kuldeep might offered a little bit of variety to the spin attack as well even though India loose a bit of batting depth with picking Kuldeep over Sundar but its a risk worth taking in my opinion (plus Sundar could be better utilized in the Sri Lankan Tour)
I do feel for Bhuvi especially considering his skill set and the conditions but his injuries make him more of a liability especially with the whole bubble and quarantine rule and also one might want a fit Bhuvi for the T20 world cup. Also he hasn’t played a first class game in a long while now so that too can be a reason. Hope he remains injury free and can set the T20 world cup on fire and find is way back into the test team
Hardik is also someone whose injury India don’t want to risk as well as I don’t think he is a good enough batter to be played only on the basis of his batting. Him being completely fit and able to bowl long spells helps the balance of this Indian team even more than now (which is frankly kind of insane) but since he can’t offer that right now and you don’t wanna risk him for the T20 world cup, it overall a better decision to not choose him and rather let him play in the Sri Lankan series
My Best XI:
Rohit Sharma
Shubman Gill
Cheteshwar Pujara
Virat Kohli (Captain)
Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain)
Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper)
R. Ashwin
Ravindra Jadeja
Ishant Sharma/ Md. Siraj,
Mohd. Shami / Md. Siraj
Jasprit Bumrah
