India won their last T20I series before the T20 World Cup, beating Afghanistan 3-0 and here’s what we learnt from the three games.
Yashasvi Jaiswal is above Shubman Gill as opener in the pecking order
With several openers already being played, Rohit Sharma’s return poses another problem for India. Who will fight next to the captain at the top? The team revealed their plans ahead of the first T20I after announcing Yashasvi Jaiswal as the opener, but due to a last-minute injury, Gill took his place and won the match. Gill showed his intent with a 12-ball 23, but gave way to Jaiswal in the next over.
Jaiswal repaid the faith placed in him by scoring a 34-ball 68 in a run chase of 173 in the second match. As well as providing the team with a left-arm option, the youngster has a strong strike rate of 161.93 in T20Is and is expected to open the season in the US.
Rohit, Kohli make strong cases for themselves
There has been a lot of talk about the return of India’s two star players as they return to the T20I lineup for the first time since the 2022 T20 World Cup. Rohit, who was criticized for his strike rate at an event two years ago, missed the first two games for Ducks, but in Bangalore he showed why he belongs. He adapted well to the difficult surface and went on to race to a record five tons after India went 22-4. He also displayed his batting skills with 14 four balls and 11 three balls in two super overs.
Kohli missed the first game and played a duck in the third game, during which he scored 29 runs off 16 balls. After being out in the first over, he tried to attack and took a lofted hit on the second ball before hitting an unconventional long hit. He was also outstanding on the field, making six one-handed saves to give him the game-winner.
India might just have a backup for Hardik Pandya
For years, India has struggled to find a successor to Hardik Pandya, a talented all-rounder who bowls in the powerplay and also plays the role of finisher with the bat. During the series, India’s anxiety was alleviated by the appearance of his Dube.
Dubet has been outstanding in the IPL over the past two seasons, scoring 156.22 and 158.33 in 2022 and 2023 respectively, with 51 sixes, the highest by an Indian batsman. He also carried that form into the international arena with success. In his first two games he scored in the 60s with 124 RBIs and a strike rate of 158.97, winning him the Player of the Series award.
Dubet also picked up two wickets in this series. Although he was costly and lacked the flexibility with the ball that Hardik provides, he was able to step in in a few overs, which was all the more remarkable given that he was not batting at all. It is becoming increasingly important to have an all-rounder by your side.
Jitesh Sharma is ahead in the race to be the wicketkeeper
India currently has five wicketkeeper candidates: Jitesh, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant. The top three are yet to have the conditions to emerge as clear favorites, but Jitesh seems to be right on top of them.
I scored 31 points out of 20 in the first game, but failed in the second game. Samson, who played his last match and was dismissed on the first ball to extend his indifferent form in T20Is, has hit more than 30 only once in his last nine innings and has hit more than 140. It only happened once.
Samson also showed signs of instability in the IPL and could not maintain his form throughout the season. Jitesh, on the other hand, despite being a relative newcomer, had a strike rate of 159.24 in 26 IPL matches. With India looking to bring in a more aggressive player, Jitesh is likely to be the frontrunner unless things change drastically in the IPL.
There is also Rahul, who struggled with his strike rate and was left out of the T20 World Cup in Australia. Rahul, who is traditionally an opener, is reportedly keen to compete in the middle order in the upcoming IPL to secure a spot in the World Cup, and there are already plenty of options in the top order. Rahul has performed well in the upcoming ODIs and the recent South African Test series and could be in for a turnaround in the shortest format.
Pant is reportedly likely to play as an impact player in the IPL after his accident last year, but his participation will depend on his fitness level. India has plenty of batting options. This decision will be difficult and decisive.
Ravi Bishnoi emerges as India’s No.1 spinner
Despite taking only 2 wickets and scoring 10.18 runs per over, Bishnoi played in the powerplay and was also tasked with winning the second super over in Bangalore. He was particularly impressive against Indore, hitting 41.7 per cent of dot balls in the powerplay and also took the wicket of Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Bishnoi also picked up his two wickets for just his one run in the Super Over, giving India victory in his third T20I.
On the other hand, Kuldeep Yadav played only for Bangalore and conceded 31 runs in 3 overs. Bishnoi played in all his three matches.
India also has the option of Yuzvendra Chahal, but he has not played in a T20 World Cup and his last T20I was in August 2023.
The pace bowling resources aren’t there yet
With Mohammed Shami apparently out of the T20I plans, India’s bowling will be led by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. Left-handed Arshdeep Singh will be the third player, but the problems begin after that. Mukesh Kumar and Avesh Khan were the other stitchers used by India in this series and they were expensive. Avesh scored 55 runs in his only match for Bangalore, but Mukesh was inconsistent, hitting more yorkers than hitting them.
With Prasidh Krishna, Harshal Patel and Umraan Malik out of selection contention, India’s fast bowling bench does not look any threat at all.
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