With the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 looming, the scrutiny over India’s squad selection intensifies. Former Indian opener Navjot Singh Sidhu recently weighed in, offering key advice to head coach Rahul Dravid, emphasizing the critical role of a potent bowling attack in securing success in the upcoming tournament.
India finds itself placed in Group A, alongside formidable opponents like Pakistan, Ireland, Canada, and the co-hosts United States. Their journey commences with a clash against Ireland on June 5 in New York, followed by a highly anticipated encounter against arch-rivals Pakistan on June 9 at the same venue. Subsequently, India faces the co-hosts USA on June 12, concluding their group stage campaign against Canada in Florida on June 15.
Navjot Singh Sidhu stressed the importance of having five specialist wicket-taking bowlers for India’s triumph. He cautioned against compromising on this aspect, highlighting the potential consequences on the team’s resilience and character.
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Sidhu’s advice was straightforward: “If you want to win this tournament, have five wicket-taking specialist bowlers, simple.” He cautioned against compromising on team composition, emphasizing that compromises could undermine the team’s character.
The winning formula for India in the World Cup should be by playing 5 regular wicket-taking bowlers’ – @sherryontopp has his say on India’s potential bowling lineup & recommends @hardikpandya7 as the 6th bowling option for the World Cup!
Do you agree with the bowlers he named… pic.twitter.com/kcmXzOuCv1
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) April 24, 2024
In terms of spin options, Navjot Singh Sidhu advocated for the inclusion of the talented leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, complementing the experienced duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav. On the pace front, he proposed Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar, Mohsin Khan, and Mayank Yadav, contingent on the latter’s full recovery from injury.
The impending squad announcement by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) adds to the anticipation, with the deadline set for May 1st. Presently, players are engrossed in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season, further complicating selection decisions.
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With logistics in mind, players from teams failing to qualify for the IPL playoffs are slated to travel to the USA before the World Cup commences. Conversely, those from playoff-bound teams will join the national squad post the IPL culmination, ensuring a seamless transition into the international campaign.
