23 May,2024 03:42 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Rohit Sharma (Pic: File Pic)
In the ever-growing T20 cricket format, India has the richest and most-watched league in the world. Yet, all that investment and attention hasn't translated into international success for India's national team. Rohit Sharma-led India will travel to the USA and the West Indies for the T20 World Cup 2024 to end their ICC trophy drought.
The Indian Premier League is full of cash and talent which attracts the best cricketers across the globe. After winning the T20 title in 2007 in South Africa, Team India has only managed to reach one more final losing it against Sri Lanka in 2014.
The hunt for the title crosses formats, too. The "Men in Blue" last won an ICC title in 2103, Champions League in England. The last ODI World Cup title won by the Indians was in the year 2011.
Last year was exceptional in that sense India lost the World Test Championship final to Australia in England and, a few months later, also lost the 50-over World Cup final to Australia, this time on home soil.
That caused major anguish in a cricket-mad country of 1.4 billion, considering India was on a 10-0 winning streak and a hot favourite going into the final.
Sharma has been a part of every Indian squad at the T20 World Cup. Kohli debuted in the 2012 edition, making this his sixth attempt at the title.
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So far, Kohli has represented India in 27 T20 World Cup games and has amassed 1,141 runs at an average of 81.50 and a strike rate of 131.30. Rohit on the other hand, has featured in 39 T20 World Cup games in which he has scored 963 runs at a strike rate of 127.88.
Both players missed all of India's T20 internationals between the 2022 semi-final loss in Australia and January of this year, leading to some speculation they'd miss out on the T20 World Cup 2024 starting June 1.
That was dispelled by both BCCI secretary Jay Shah and chief selector Ajit Agarkar. Now, there will be a big focus on their contributions in terms of runs and strike rate.
In the IPL 2024, representing Mumbai Indians, Rohit scored 417 runs. Kohli on the other hand, enjoys the top spot on the list of leading run-scorers in the IPL 2024. In 15 matches, he has scored 741 runs at an average of 61.57. Despite being the leading run-scorer, his strike rate was criticised by cricket pundits.
During the press conference, while confirming the Indian squad, Ajit Agarkar rubbed out the questions raised on Kohli's strike rate saying that there's a difference between international cricket and IPL."You need experience as the pressure of a World Cup game is different. You (only) try to take positives from what is happening in the IPL."
Kohli opens the batting for his IPL franchise but goes in at No. 3 for India in T20s. It has led to a significant debate over his batting position for the T20 World Cup 2024 because it holds the key to India's XI.
With Yashasvi Jaiswal in the squad, should Virat Kohli continue to bat at number three as Jaiswal will play the role of the opener with Rohit Sharma? India will then have to play with only four specialist batters including Suryakumar Yadav, the World's number one T20I batsman. Followed by all-rounder Hardik Pandya, first-choice wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant and bowling all-rounders.
If Kohli opens with Sharma, it allows for an extra batter in the middle order and likely makes room for Shivam Dube, who has impressed selectors with his power hitting in the IPL 2024 and a strike rate of 162.29. Dube can also bowl useful medium pace if needed and could provide backup to Pandya.
Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah will lead a bowling attack containing four spinners, including left-arm all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. Wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzendra Chahal complete the line-up.
I asked for four spinners, Sharma explained. Most of our matches will start at 10-11 am (and) we expect all-rounders to do a job for us. It gives us a variety of combinations to explore depending on the opposition.
India begins its T20 World Cup 2024 campaign against Ireland on June 5, then faces fierce rival Pakistan in New York on June 9 in what could be the highlight of the group stage. India will play the US on June 12 and Canada on June 15.
While it is a seemingly straightforward road for India in the first round, the tension to end a prolonged title drought will grow once it reaches the West Indies for the Super Eight stage.
(With AP Inputs)
