As India prepares for the start of their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign, former cricketers and experts are debating the optimal playing XI, particularly given the absence of the ‘Impact Player’ rule that is used in the Indian Premier League (IPL). This rule’s absence necessitates careful team balance management.
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan suggests that the team should consider having more bowling options due to the inability of key players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Suryakumar Yadav to bowl, which he believes leaves the team at a disadvantage. Pathan proposes two potential team combinations:
- Six Bowlers Combination: This includes having six bowlers, with Axar Patel included to strengthen the batting lineup.
- Four Front-line Bowlers Combination: This setup would rely on Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya to contribute with the ball. Pathan also mentioned Yashasvi Jaiswal as an option, a young player who has been bowling in the nets but hasn’t bowled in matches yet.
Pathan emphasized that if Hardik Pandya can consistently bowl three to four overs, it would significantly address the team’s bowling concerns. He noted that the lack of bowling capabilities among the primary batsmen makes the team somewhat handicapped. He compared the situation to teams like Australia and England, which have multiple all-rounders in their top seven players, enhancing their bowling options.
Similarly, former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar echoed Pathan’s sentiments on the team’s reliance on specialist bowlers and batters. Manjrekar highlighted the lack of all-rounders as a weakness and stressed the importance of including both Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya in the team, with both taking up bowling duties to achieve a balanced team composition. He pointed out that the inclusion of Shivam Dube aims to mitigate the limitations stemming from the lack of all-rounders, a strategy influenced by the impact substitute rule in the IPL.
Manjrekar underscored that for India to strike a balance, some players will need to bowl at least two to three overs per match. He drew comparisons with Australia’s team, which benefits from players like Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, and Cameron Green who can contribute both with the bat and the ball.
In summary, both Pathan and Manjrekar emphasize the necessity for India to adapt their team composition by integrating more bowling options to compensate for the absence of the ‘Impact Player’ rule and to enhance their competitiveness in the T20 World Cup 2024.
