India faces a number of interesting decisions regarding the makeup of their starting line-up for the World T20 at the end of this year, with time fast running out to solidify their selections. Virat Kohli’s men brushed aside Sri Lanka with ease in their three-match T20 series, claiming a 2-0 win with the first match of the series being abandoned due to rain.
India chased down a relatively small total in the second match to earn a comfortable victory before posting 201 in the final contest, which resulted in a dominant triumph. Sri Lanka is not one of the strongest sides in world cricket at the moment, but the performances were strong enough to suggest that Kohli’s men will be a force to be reckoned with in the World T20.
For all of India’s power in the shortest format of the game with the premier domestic competition in the world – the Indian Premier League – they have failed to win the World T20 since the inaugural tournament in 2007, which even predates the IPL. India are backed in the online cricket betting odds at +350 to triumph in Australia, but it will take a flawless effort given the standard of competition they will face and their own uncertainties regarding certain positions.
Rohit Sharma is one of the leading T20 batsmen in the world and is guaranteed his place at the top of the order bar an injury. The spot alongside him is up for grabs and he was rested for series against Sri Lanka, allowing Lokesh Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan to stake their claim for the place. Dhawan has locked down the place in the 50-over format, but his form in T20 has been less convincing. The 34-year-old has an average of 28.35 with a strike rate of 128.27, notching a top score of 92 with 10 half-centuries in 61 games. It’s not quite good enough for a team hoping to compete for the crown, even though he did score at a decent rate with an innings of 52 in the deciding match of the series.
Lokesh Rahul seems to have the edge on his team-mate for now given his superior record and his better strike rate suited for the demands of T20, although Kohli has suggested that both players could work their way into the line-up. The bad news for India is that the decision would move Kohli down to number four in the order. They cannot afford to have their best player arriving late in the day and not being able to have a huge effect on games.
India has watched the rest of the world develop power-hitting batting line-ups – none more so than England, who boast a huge amount of depth in their ranks. Australia, New Zealand and the West Indies also have a great deal of striking threat in their sides – which could put India under pressure at the tournament.
Outside of Kohli, Sharma, Dhawan, and Rahul, there should be doubts about the lower middle order. Although Rishab Pant has potential, he has not proven himself in the shortest format at the international level, while the same can be said for Shreyas Iyer. There are not a lot of young players knocking on the door to push their senior counterparts for places in the team, which is concerning given that three of the senior players are all in their thirties. It was evident in the 50-over World Cup where Kohli’s men crashed out at the semi-final stage. India may have problems finding their best batting line-up at the moment, but matters could take an even more serious turn after the next World T20 on home soil in 2021.
