India's big team landed in South Africa last week. They will play six international matches to figure out their lineups before entering the final stages of preparation for the T20 World Cup in June. The first of three games against the hosts was postponed on Sunday because to persistent rain in Durban. This was not the perfect start that head coach Rahul Dravid and current captain Suryakumar Yadav would have preferred.
The management group's only games left before the North American World Cup adventure are Tuesday and Thursday matchups against the Proteas and three more home games against Afghanistan in mid-January. There's the Indian Premier League (IPL), which takes place, most likely, from mid-March to mid-May. Players there will refine their craft and get used to the demanding nature of the 20-over format, but they will be doing so for their individual teams, frequently working apart from one another in the dressing room.
The fact that a nation with the most well-known and vibrant 20-over franchise league in the world hasn't won a T20 World Cup since the IPL's founding may seem like one of life's great contradictions. That's easy to understand, though, given the big guys don't often play a lot of cricket together until it's absolutely necessary, despite their flirtations with the big stage and the pressure that comes with doing well for a franchise. like the World Cup.
India's attention has been on the 50-over format for the past ten months since the conclusion of the previous T20 World Cup in Australia in November. This was to be expected considering the recent very disappointing home World Cup, which had so much potential but ultimately ended in tragedy. Three of the greatest batting stars, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul, didn't play a single T20I during that time, giving the younger players a chance to show off their skills and establish their claims.
Since the young batsmen haven't let India down, they have a plenty of options at their disposal. However, even while a problem of abundance could seem like a joyful headache, it is still just that—a headache. Dravid will be anxious to prevent a repeat of last year's painful lesson he learnt in Australia, especially because the World Cup is quickly approaching and his contract extension is heavily influenced by it.
Therefore, it becomes essential that India field playing XIs in the next five games that include most of the team that will play in the US and the Caribbean in the summer. It's true that some players will unavoidably be included; among them are speedster Jasprit Bumrah and key all-rounder Hardik Pandya, if he recovers from his injury. Other than that, though, the focus needs to be on getting the likely World Cup core some playing time so that they can develop as a team and learn from each other in the short window of time between now and June.
Rinku Singh has to be encouraged to be at ease in her role as a finisher because of this. Unlike Ishan Kishan, the other and more experienced stumper whose vocation is at the top of the order, Jitesh Sharma, one of the two wicketkeepers in the mix, must be let to pursue his international schooling in the second part of the batting order.
To prevent unpleasant shocks when it matters most, leggie Ravi Bishnoi has to be bowled at several points in the game, including as the Powerplay, the middle overs, and maybe even the last quarter. Because of this, Arshdeep Singh, the left-arm fast who can blow cold as easily as he can blow hot, has to be forced to continue honing his plethora of variations, some of which haven't always been executed with the composure and dexterity one would hope for from him.
Rinku and Jitesh and their like would expect no less from Yashavi Jaiswal, the man at the top of the batting tree, who has emphasised the need of communication clarity. The majority of them have been part of "shadow" Indian T20 squads, such the ones who went to Ireland under the guidance of Shitanshu Kotak or participated in the Asian Games in Hangzhou and this month's home series against Australia (both guided by the inspiring VVS Laxman). Their approach and way of thinking have always been influenced by the inclusive coaching philosophy of Laxman; thus, continuity won't be a problem because Laxman and David share similar philosophies and there won't be any message misunderstanding. The management group has to steer clear of playing combinations that are confusing.
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