Team after disappointing defeat at Edgbaston India are gearing up for the three-match T20I series against England which gives them a great opportunity to get things going ahead of the all-important T20I World Cup in Australia. Both the teams are T20I powerhouses and Indian fans will be desperate to assess the preparations for the big guys, such as Virat Kohli And Rohit Sharma made a comeback in the last two matches. It is anyone’s guess as to who will grab the limelight. We take a look at five major players.
1. Virat Kohli: One of the most polarizing figures in Indian cricket, Kohli last played for India in a T20I match against Sri Lanka in February, after which he took a break before returning to the IPL, where his season was marred as He managed to score 341 runs in 16 matches. All eyes will once again be on the former India captain as the T20 World Cup is going to happen in a few months. He has a lot to prove in particular, especially with his recent T20 numbers scoring 157 runs in seven matches with a half-century against Pakistan last year.
2. Rohit Sharma: If Kohli’s form was bad, then Rohit’s condition was absolutely bad in IPL 2022. With 268 runs from 14 matches, the Mumbaikar faced a terrible form. Meanwhile, his captaincy also came under question as Mumbai Indians went on to lose eight games in a row – a new record! A lot was expected of India’s new Test captain to play the one-sided Test in England, but he contracted Covid. This is the reason why Rohit will probably be the most watched player in the T20 World Cup, yes even more than Virat. The 35-year-old will lead India in Australia and a string of defeats or a dry run with the bat is the last thing he wants.
3. Jasprit Bumrah: Unlike Rohit and Virat, Bumrah’s individual form only started to improve in the last 12 months. He also led India at Edgbaston. Though he would have loved to win, his T20 figures would be a comfort to any loyal Indian cricket fan. Even in IPL 2022, as Mumbai Indians struggled, Bumrah took 15 wickets in 14 matches while hitting the stumps. He will be India’s strike bowler in Australia and will have to play all the matches in the lead up. It can be challenging.
4. Hardik Pandya: Before IPL 2022, Pandya was probably going through a crisis. His fitness was under question, and some even questioned his commitment, but the all-rounder is back and how. Not only did he show that he could bat at number four, but he also used his resources well to help Gujarat Titans lift the trophy. This also helped his reputation as fans felt that he should be preferred over Rishabh Pant as the T20I captain which eventually resulted in the tour of Ireland. Going forward, it has to be seen at which position Pandya bats with full force in the Indian team.
5. Rishabh Pant: Blow hot, blow cold Pant can be a game changer for Team India in England, but he is up against Dinesh Karthik and Sanju Samson. The former has demonstrated the art of T20 batting, especially in the death overs, while Pant was struggling against South Africa recently. He has proved time and again that he can dodge bowlers at any time (the recent Test match against England being a case in point), but his casual approach needs to be checked. Will he prove his critics wrong against a quality side like England?
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