Indian batters used their only warm-up match against Bangladesh to fine-tune their skills and post a challenging total ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024, held in New York on Saturday, June 1. Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya showed impressive performances, helping India amass a total of 182 runs. However, the team’s selection strategy left many with questions.
Though Virat Kohli was part of the camp and actively participated in the pre-match warm-up, he was given a rest for this match. Indian skipper Rohit Sharma confirmed that Kohli was excluded from the team after winning the toss at New York’s Nassau County International Cricket Stadium.
Defying expectations, Rohit Sharma walked out to open India’s innings with Sanju Samson. Unfortunately, this strategy did not pay off as Samson was dismissed after scoring just one run. This raised numerous questions about India’s batting order, especially as they face Ireland in their first match of the tournament on June 5.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, who had been eagerly awaited by fans, remained on the bench. Instead, Rishabh Pant came out to bat at the number three position, followed by Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, and Ravindra Jadeja. Although Captain Rohit Sharma didn’t offer an explanation for Jaiswal’s exclusion, it may hint at a possible opening role for in-form Virat Kohli.
The decision to rest Kohli in the warm-up game comes after he had a stellar run in the IPL 2024, where he topped the scoring charts with 741 runs at a strike rate of over 150, and also smashed the second-highest 38 sixes in 15 innings. Kohli’s aggressive style as an opener in the IPL led many to propose that the Indian management should pair Rohit and Kohli as openers for the World Cup.
Kohli’s impactful performance as an opening batsman has been hard to ignore. In contrast, Yashasvi Jaiswal also had a strong IPL season, scoring 434 runs at a strike rate of 155.
.91, but it was Kohli’s consistency and aggression that stole the spotlight. If Kohli opens alongside Rohit, the Indian team could potentially utilize both Sanju Samson and Rishabh Pant in their playing eleven against Ireland, thereby strengthening their middle order.
Apart from Kohli, Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya also made their marks in the warm-up game, with Pant’s aggression and Pandya’s finishing skills contributing significantly to India’s total score of 182. While questions around the batting order linger, the stellar individual performances have brought a sense of optimism as India gears up for the World Cup.
Interestingly, Kohli boasts some impressive statistics while playing as an opener in T20Is. He has accumulated 400 runs in just nine innings at the opening positions, maintaining a phenomenal strike rate of over 150. This further supports the argument for his inclusion at the top of the order.
India’s batting lineup against Bangladesh was as follows: Sanju Samson, Rohit Sharma (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, and Ravindra Jadeja. Looking forward to the World Cup, India’s probable playing XI may include: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma (c), Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and Arshdeep Singh.
This lineup not only highlights the depth and flexibility of India’s squad but also reflects the strategic choices made by the team management. The imminent match against Ireland will be crucial as it will shed more light on India’s final playing XI and their batting order strategy for the World Cup.
As fans and analysts eagerly await the first game of the tournament, all eyes will be on Virat Kohli and his potential role as an opening batsman. The management’s tactical decisions and the players’ performances in the upcoming games will play a pivotal role in India’s journey at the T20 World Cup 2024.
Related Stories highlight various speculative match predictions, insights, and player profiles, making the fans more excited and intrigued about the tournament’s kickoff. Adding to this build-up, the opening ceremony of the T20 World Cup 2024 promises to be a grand affair with a star-studded lineup of performers, ensuring that the tournament begins with a bang.
