By I. Hansana, Jadetimes News
India, the top ranked team, enters the ninth T20 World Cup in 2024 as the favorite, carrying the weight of high expectations and scrutiny from fans and experts. Despite their historic win in the inaugural 2007 World Cup, India has struggled to replicate that success. Despite possessing wealth, talent, and influence, major ICC titles have eluded them since the 2013 Champions Trophy.
Despite commendable performances under stellar captains like MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, and coaching by Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid, India has faltered in crucial tournaments, including losing in the final of the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup to Australia last year.
The IPL has traditionally served as a platform for assessing player form and influencing team selection for T20 and sometimes even for ODI World Cups. However, the selection of the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup based on the IPL 2024 performances has raised eyebrows.
Several key players, including top IPL run scorers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Riyan Parag, and top wicket takers Harshal Patel and Varun Chakravarthy, have been overlooked. Instead, some selections seem puzzling, with players like Rinku Singh and Shubman Gill finding themselves in the reserves despite promising performances.
Amidst the confusion, standout performers like Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah have reaffirmed their prowess. Despite mid tournament criticism of his strike rate, Kohli's exceptional batting silenced doubters, while Bumrah's economical and wicket taking abilities stood out despite his team's poor performance. Rishabh Pant's return from a near fatal injury showcased his dazzling batting, making him a key player to watch. However, the squad's depth beyond these players appears to diminish.
The bowling attack, especially concerning the drop in pitches from Australia, raises concerns, with a lack of variety and experience. Additionally, the poor IPL form of captain Rohit Sharma and deputy Hardik Pandya, coupled with their involvement in a captaincy controversy, adds to the team's challenges.
Despite these concerns, India's selectors have aimed to cover all contingencies, leveraging the depth of talent in Indian cricket. However, the unpredictability of T20 cricket, coupled with strong competition from teams like England, West Indies, and Australia, makes predicting a winner risky. The highly anticipated match against Pakistan adds further pressure, but India must aim beyond just winning this contest for true redemption lies in claiming the World Cup title.