India head coach Rahul Dravid addressed the two burning questions about the playing XI. India might have scripted an unbeaten run in the 2024 T20 World Cup group stage. They may have never lost an international T20 game against Afghanistan, whom they face on Thursday in Barbados. Yet, two selection factors have been heavily discussed in the build-up to their first Super Eight match in the tournament.
Rahul Dravid, when asked about the opening combination including Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli , said that India will be flexible with its batting order and change it as per the situation.
Kuldeep Yadav to be played vs Afghanistan
Kuldeep was rested for all the matches India played in the group-stage given that the conditions in New York favored the fast bowlers. However, in the Caribbeans, spinners have been more effective. India had practice sessions on both Monday and Tuesday and Kuldeep had an extended session at the nets on both days, bowling to the likes of Rohit and Kohli. If anything, it surely indicated that one between Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj will make way for the leg-spinner.
Virat Kohli was expected to emulate his IPL 2024, where he scored 741 runs in 15 innings to win the Orange Cap, and hence was even promoted to the opening role. However, the former India captain returned with scores of just 4, 1, 0 in three games in the group stage. His performance subsequently sparked discussions on whether he should continue to open for India. Few veterans agreed, citing that tinkering the line-up might disrupt the other batters, while many were in favour of the move.
Rahul Dravid, while not giving away much of India’s plan, indicated that one of the wrist spinners – Kuldeep or Yuzvendra Chahal – might get to feature in the India XI for the game against Afghanistan.
Rahul Dravid admits Kuldeep or Chahal might play in 2024 T20 World Cup Super 8 match against Afghanistan
Team India’s head coach Rahul Dravid has admitted that wrist-spinners Kuldeep Yadav or Yuzvendra Chahal could be part of the playing XI for their 2024 T20 World Cup Super 8 match against Afghanistan on Thursday, June 20. Rahul Dravid explained that conditions in Barbados are expected to aid spin more as compared to New York, which was extremely seamer-friendly.
The Men in Blue played their first three group matches at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. Their first Super 8 match against Afghanistan will be played at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. In the build up to the contest, a number of critics have urged India to include an extra spinner in their playing XI, keeping the conditions in mind.
Speaking on the eve on India’s opening Super 8 contest, Dravid admitted that the management too was thinking on similar lines. Sharing his thoughts at the pre-match press conference, he commented, as quoted as saying by PTI:
“It’s tough to leave anyone out. New York had pace bowlers conditions… slightly different. We might need something different here (in Barbados). Yuzi (Chahal) or Kuldeep (Yadav) could be used here. We are lucky to have players with all-round abilities. We had eight batters but we (also) had seven bowling options.”
India have been flexible with their batting order in the T20 World Cup. In the match against Pakistan, Axar Patel was promoted to No. 4 after the loss of early wickets. The Indian head coach stated that the batting order would continue to remain flexible, depending on the conditions.
“Each situation is unique. Can’t set it in stone. I believe in flexibility. The Pakistan game we moved Axar (Patel), specifically thinking around it… Rishabh (Pant) up the order (at No. 3), lots of thinking goes into it. I don’t think in Tests (cricket), we will have that flexibility. In T20s where it is a lot about match-ups, you see it happening more,” he explained.
While Pant has done a great job at No. 3, Axar contributed a crucial 20 off 18 balls in the win over Pakistan.
Rahul Dravid admits Afghanistan team cannot been taken lightly.
India will go into their Super 8 clash against Afghanistan as favorites, having never lost to them in the T20I format. Rahul Dravid, however, said that the Men in Blue cannot take Afghanistan lightly as they are a dangerous side in the T20 format.
“Certainly, in this format, they are not a team that should be taken lightly and they are deservedly in the Super 8s. We will not treat them any differently as we would treat any other team we expect to play in the Super 8s,” he commented.
Afghanistan confirmed their place in the Super 8 with three consecutive wins in the group stage before going down to West Indies by 104 runs in St Lucia.