In the last couple of days, a lot of country’s have announced their teams for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup to be held in UAE starting mid-October. The tournament is split in two halves. India is in Group 2 with Pakistan, New Zealand, Afghanistan, and two teams from qualifiers.
In this group, India has announced their squad as has New Zealand. In Group 1 England and South Africa have also declared their squads of 15 members. It has to be said that all of the squads that have so far been declared have sprung up plenty of surprises. Names that were automatic picks have been left out while players who were on the fringes have got a call-up. We look at India’s team and how it stacks up compared to the others.
India dropped the biggest bombshell by including Ashwin in the team. Notable exclusions consist of Shreyas Iyer, Chahal, Deepak Chahar, and Shardul Thakur. Chahal was India’s top spinner for the most part of the last three years. Iyer had been slot into India’s middle order for the 2020 Australia tour.
Deepak Chahar and Thakur have been India’s first-choice seam bowlers in T20 internationals. India have picked a pitch friendly spin attack. Jaddu, Ashwin, Varun Chakravarthy, and Axar Patel form part of the department. The batting has picked itself with Dhawan missing out. Ashwin coming back into the team has baffled a few but to have one of the best Indian spinners of all time would easily motivate the team.
New Zealand has gone with Tom Latham, Taylor, and Grandhomme. These names are synonymous with the Kiwis in all formats. To not have the services of the big-hitting Grandhomme is shocking. They have picked a rather inexperienced batting lineup with Glenn Phillips, Tim Siefert, and Devon Conway. The batting would rest with Williamson and Guptil.
A four-pronged pace attack that includes Boult, Jamieson, Ferguson, and Southee. This is not the most intimidating Kiwi squad. South Africa to have decided to leave out Faf, Chris Morris, and Tahir. The bowling is solid with Rabada, Ngidi, and Nortje.
The two of the most superstar-heavy teams have gone in with their expected team selections. England has picked what could possibly be the best top 7. Roy, Bairstow, Butler, Morgan, Livingstone, and Moeen Ali. This team looks like a world-beater even without the services of Ben Stokes. In the bowling department, they have gone with Ali and Rashid for spin and Wood, Woakes, Willey, and Mills for pace. Sam Curran and Jordan feature as the all-rounders.
Under the captaincy of Pollard, the Windies have picked Simmons, Gayle, Andre Fletcher, Hetmyr, Pooran, and Evin Lewis. With this kind of batting with Russel and Bravo coming lower down the order, Windies could probably make it three in three.
The biggest marquee ICC event is all set to begin in a month’s time. Most teams have been announced and it looks unlikely for any massive changes from here on. All teams will attempt to put their best foot forward. Some teams look fantastic on paper and should be in the top 4 sure shots. England, India and Windies have picked squads that on their day could pull of any total. However, we shall remember the mercurial Pakistan that can never be written off. All in all, this seems like a cracker of a tournament, and India have taken the best foot forward by picking a well-rounded squad.
