My ideal XI for the T20 WC would be
Rohit Sharma
Ishan Kishan
SKY/Iyer
Kohli
Pant
Pandya
Jadeja
Sundar/Axar/Chahar
Chahal/Kuldeep
Shami
Bumrah
Having SKY or Iyer at 3 gives them the ability to start slogging from get go. Just like what Raina did for CSK all over the years in his prime.
There is a vast difference in the quality and level between Sky and Shreyas. Also, there's a huge fixation in our country over numbers and therefore, fixed batting numbers rather than fixed batting roles. For you, Ishan Kishan supersedes KL Rahul on the basis of one innings while KL has been smoking attacks for two years in the white ball game. He was "in line" for the job after Rohit and was being groomed for it and now suddenly, on the basis of one bad series he's no good. Pant has made it into this side for you based on test performances? I've been begging for him to be a permanent at 5 for three years almost.
I'll list down this side which I have listed down god knows how many times-
1&2
Rohit Sharma- no questions asked.
KL Rahul- He has to be told to "bat free." It's a terminology we use which basically means that he's not burdened with building the innings. His role is to attack and if he fails in the process, then the team accepts it. At the moment, he's tentative, hesitant and visibly insecure.
3&4
Virat Kohli - I think Kohli is a no brainer for me personally if a wicket falls in the PP. It gives him time to get off the blocks with some boundaries and if there's a stutter or a collapse from the other end, he can control the innings and then try and explode in the last 4-5. A lot of people underestimate the value of this and feel it's important for 11 people to go hammer and tongs. Kohli is basically the insurance policy that Pujara is in test matches, only that he can really match any big hitter if he gets set.
Surya Kumar Yadav - I'd say Surya is the most versatile batter in the top 6 for India. He has absolutely every shot in the book. He can play spin, fast bowling, he can attack and he can consolidate in case Kohli gets out in the power play as well. He should have been auditioning with Iyer for the number 4 position in the 2019 WC as I have said a million times and he's basically shown that yesterday. I've seen him have some proper slug fests in the longer formats as well as a domestic cricketer, so he's not got 1-2 dimensions with his batting. Vital cog and has burst on the scene 3-4 years late.
5&6
Rishabh Pant - Pant keeps wickets and bats at 5. The message to him should be that this is his position for the next three world cups and not just for this one. He also is the joker in the pack as I expect a lot of teams to use leg spinners against India, may be even two of them with the right handers. If used wisely, when the opposition does deploy two leg break bowlers, he can bat higher up but in general 98/100 times he should be there to support the next man I will mention to tee off at the death. He also needs to be given the responsibility of controlling mini collapses because there could be a situation 6 and 7 have got out with 3-4 overs left and Pant needs to be mature enough to just arrest such a slide for 1-2 overs and then attack. I'd say, he's the most important player in the side after our two all rounders.
Hardik Pandya - His bowling seems to have improved a bit post injury which is a huge boost and I am not at all worried about his batting. One thing I will say is that his entire set up is for the full delivery and everyone now knows that. His job is to practice a lot of big hitting against 90 mile an hour short stuff. Because Pandya has such fast hands and he's so fit (his core is where all his power is) I think a few weeks of practice will achieve more consistency in long range hitting against that type of bowling. He can play the fourth seamer on tracks where one of the spinners is going for some or one of the main seamers is having an off day.
7
Ravindra Jadeja - no questions please
8
Bhuvneshwar Kumar - same as above
9
Mohommad Shami / T Natarajan - Both obviously make the squad and if Dhoni/Rohit are the skippers then you can rely on them to pick either/or based on the track, opposition and situation but this is a brighter and more tactically astute lot so I really would just leave it to them. I am a bit torn because Natarajan offers the variety with the angles but with Bhuvi and Bumrah doing the heavy lifting at the death, Shami is a deadly weapon to have with the new ball. I don't think Shami is a 'bad' death bowler as everyone makes him out to be.
10
Jasprit Bumrah - biggest asset to the side
11
Yuzwendra Chahal / Kuldeep Yadav - I personally would pick Kuldeep. He just needs some confidence and I think he has more variety and guile than Chahal but I don't mind Yuzi either if the captain and coach feel there is more control with Chahal. Kuldeep is more wicket taking and I feel that's the way to go in cricket.
That's 13 people.
Ishan Kishan - Class act, reserve opener and can bat basically anywhere. If one of the batters gets out of form, he can walk in.
Navdeep Saini - I think there are some tracks where a fast bowler like him is invaluable.
Shreyas Iyer - He's done everything in his powers to be in the team and I think he deserves his place in the squad.
Washington Sundar - Same as above.
I think there will be 21 member squads for the WC and in that event I expect even more lousy selections from our team but we will see.
