With exactly four months to the onset of the next T20I world cup, India needs to put in a lot of laborious effort in selecting the team, planning, and execution.
Almost a month ahead of the ending of the exhilarating Indian Premier League, the Indian National Team seems to be toiling to find the correct combinations for the playing XI. With the senior-most players taking a rest to manage their workloads, it was on our young guns to fight against the mighty Proteas, and now with the Ireland team to cross the line and take the team to the course of victory which has led us to have 6 designated T20I captains since July 21. The recent INDvSA is poised on 2–2, let’s take a look at how India performed in the last T20I World cup held in the UAE.
With our openers stooping for low scores in the first two matches, India made a heartbreaking group-stage exit and the hopes for adding one more feather to our achievements’ cap were shattered. Our biggest loophole which posed a major problem was the team selection and the selectors & the BCCI realized their mistake very soon. With the baton of head coach now being passed to the stalwart Rahul Dravid and that of captain to Rohit Sharma, viewers and enthusiasts of cricket will now be keeping a keen eye on what could possibly be our squad for the upcoming world cup. With almost everyone having their own, distinct playing XI, I would rather like to name three players who are more deserving than anyone else and have been waiting and justifying again and again why should be given their international caps now.
3 players who should be a part of the T20I World Cup squad in 2022
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- The first name which comes to mind when I speak about players who are deserving to get a call-up is none other than, Sanju Samson. This guy has proved his worth innumerable times in the T20 league and the rare chances he has gotten for India. Samson holds various records in the Indian T20I league namely most runs in middle overs Since 2020, most runs among non-openers(Indians) since 2020, and most runs at no. 3 since 2020 and is only second to Jos Buttler in best strike rates against spin since 2020. Having a strike rate of 135.71, he has 3 IPL hundreds and 17 50s to his name. Not only batting but his wicket-keeping and fielding skills are also less talked about. An electric guy around the field, Sanju possesses immense talent and intent whenever he walks in to bat for his team. Hoping this time around, he gets the chance he deserves and represents his country in the shortest format WC.
- The second name which I am really excited about is our very own, young Arshdeep Singh. Yes, he hasn’t played a single game for India yet but again, what an amazing talent. Being a left-arm pacer and bowling exceptionally well in the IPL in recent years, Arshdeep stands a great chance to make it to the WC squad.
Arshdeep held the nerves of the spectators by bowling exceptionally well, especially in the death overs of the game. He would really just cease the game with the overs increasing and batters feeling hapless. He is one of guys whose performance doesn’t get justified looking at the stats only but nevertheless, he has 40 wickets under his name, playing 37 matches in three years, having an economy of 8.35.
It has always been a thriller to watch the match if you have a left-arm pacer to open the bowling and imagine how lethal could Arshdeep prove to be if he bowls with Bumrah at one end and himself at the other, taking the game deep into the death overs.
I already cannot wait to see this guy bowl those amazing spells in the Indian jersey and make us all proud.
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3. The third name is the one that has gotten me jumping outta my every time I watched him bat this IPL. He is none else than our vintage finisher, Dinesh Karthik. Watching DK bet as a finisher still takes me back to the finals of the 2018 Nidhas Trophy. What a finish that was!
Talking of the IPL, it was only in 2022 that DK was brought by RCB and was given the role to finish the innings. I personally did not expect that kind of a season for him post his retirement, but oh lord, DK made us view his amazing batsmanship with awe.
Karthik made 330 runs in 16 innings at an average of 55 and a staggering strike rate of 183.33 in the IPL 2022 and made this team reach the Qualifier 2 of the tournament. Though it was evident that DK enjoyed and is having utmost fun while finishing the innings for the IPL team and in the recent INDvSA series, I am rooting for him to go big in the land of Kiwis and have a huge edge over them.
So, these were basically the three players I am excited to see at the bigger level, representing our country in the world cup. Let me know what big names are you wanting to see play for India in the world cup, and send best wishes for our team till then 🙂
