COC predicted possible Team India squad for ICC T20 World Cup 2021

The ICC T20 World Cup 2021 to be played in India in October-November.

Team India recently won the five-match T20I series against England 3-2 despite missing quite a few of their key bowlers in the squad, yet they came back from 2-1 down and won the last two T20Is to beat the no.1 ranked T20I side.

India tried out two new faces in this series in Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar returned to the playing XI after a long time. The series also saw Hardik Pandya return to bowling duties as well, a big relief for the team management as the Baroda all-rounder moves towards full fitness and utilities.

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Indian team management now has the IPL 2021 and possible T20I series against South Africa and New Zealand as preparation for the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 to be played at home. However, this England series perhaps almost finalized what the T20I squad for India might look like for the ICC event, with a few openings for IPL performers.

Hence, Team COC predicts the Team India squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2021

India tried multiple opening combinations in the five matches starting with Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan-KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma-KL Rahul, and finally Rohit Sharma-KL Rahul, and last but not the least Rohit Sharma-Virat Kohli.

Out of this, the aptest opening combination was Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, as the duo added 94 runs for the first wicket in the fifth T20I, laying the platform for the final total of 224/2.

Virat Kohli has also said that he will open the innings for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the upcoming IPL 2021 and it might see him doing the same in the T20 World Cup 2021. It helps him anchor one end of the innings, while batsmen like Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and others dominating the opposition bowlers from the start at the other end.

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Though KL Rahul had a terrible series, scoring two ducks in succession, he is one of the most talented batsmen in limited-overs for India and can be a wicketkeeper back up as well, apart from being the backup opener.

In the middle order, India has Shreyas Iyer as the potential permanent member with the newbies Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav adding flair and aggression to the Men in Blue side. Both Kishan and Suryakumar can also open the innings if needed and like to dominate the bowlers or play as per the situation.

Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, and Ravindra Jadeja will be the probable finishers for the Indian team. All the three batsmen like to go big in the last few overs and have the ability to hit sixes from the first ball itself, giving India the impetus to take the final score to new heights.

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Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya, and Washington Sundar are also possible all-rounders in the squad for ICC T20 World Cup 2021, especially after Hardik Pandya started bowling in full force with a newly remodeled action. He lends amazing flexibility to the Indian batting lineup with his bowling abilities.

Yuzvendra Chahal may be picked as the lone leg-spinner in the Indian T20 squad and might get help from Jadeja and Sundar in the spin department.

Now coming to the pace attack, India did well without the likes of Mohammad Shami and Jasprit Bumrah in the England T20Is, but both of the bowlers are supposed to be back for the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 and will appear in the upcoming IPL 2021 for their respective franchises as well.

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As for support, India will most probably have the services of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and T Natarajan as well. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammad Shami, and Jasprit Bumrah might be the first choice of fast bowling attack with T Natarajan, being the backup bowler bringing the variety in the fast bowling department. Given the current COVID-19 scenario, Team COC has also picked five players as standbys for the main squad.

With many probable openers already in the main Indian team squad, it is only justifiable for Manish Pandey to be the possible backup in the middle order. He brings calm and serenity to the attacking batting order that India possesses.

Krunal Pandya and Rahul Chahar may be picked as the backup spinners to aid Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, and Yuzvendra Chahal. Krunal also brings in his left-handed batting abilities to the table as well. Rahul Chahar will give the Indian team option to play two leg-spinners if needed.

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Deepak Chahar and Shardul Thakur have done amazingly well for India in recent years in absence of first-choice bowlers and might be the selectors’ primary picks as backup fast bowlers.

India will also have some more time to audition for more players in the IPL 2021 and then give them match practice during possible South Africa and New Zealand T20I series.

COC Predicted Team India Squad:

Virat Kohli (C), Rohit Sharma (VC), KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan (WK), Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, T Natarajan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammad Shami

Standbys:

Shardul Thakur, Manish Pandey, Krunal Pandya, Rahul Chahar, Deepak Chahar