The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has already announced India’s squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia, beginning on October 16. The Men in Blue will miss the services of Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah who have been ruled out of the showpiece event due to injuries.
Despite that, the squad comprises several match winners who are capable of winning games for the country single handily. So let’s take a look at the three match-winners who are crucial to India’s chances of lifting the trophy.
#1 Hardik Pandya
The all-rounder, since his comeback to the national team and winning the IPL, has been consistently delivering match-winning performances for the team with both the bat and the bowl.
He provides all the necessary balance to this T20 team by giving a sixth bowling option and a hard-hitting finisher. Since his comeback, he has scored 436 runs at a strike rate of 151.39 and taken 12 wickets. His bowling style suits Australian conditions as he can hit the deck at speeds above 140 kmph and use his variations.
His ability to finish a game for the country was never questioned, but since his comeback, this ability has just amplified. He is India’s X-factor player in the world cup as he can consistently deliver for the team in all aspects of this format, i.e., bat, bowl, and in the field. His contribution to the team’s performances is critical for India to go deep into the tournament.
#2 Suryakumar Yadav
One of India’s most flamboyant and stylish players in T20s cannot do any wrong in this format. Every shot he plays resonates with his ability and confidence in himself to play this format.
After a shift in the template of playing this format, he has become more essential to India’s plan. His style of play allows him to attack both spin and pace. Additionally, his form this year in T20Is cannot be overlooked (801 runs at an average of 40.05 and a strike rate of 184.56).
His ability to hit the ball in any part of the ground constantly creates pressure on the opposition captain. His attacking mindset is essential for the team, especially during the middle overs of 7-15. He can play his natural attacking game for the team, irrespective of the situation. India will hope that his purple patch continues through this tournament.
#1 Virat Kolhi
The Asia Cup 2022 result may have not gone in India’s favour but what came out of this tournament was Virat Kolhi coming back in form. After a long gap of almost three years, he scored his 71st century and having other consistent performances in the tournament is a positive sign for the team going into the T20 World Cup.
Since the completion of the Asia Cup, the fire in Kolhi has been re-ignited and waiting to wreak havoc in Australia. Given that the tournament will be in Australia, a place where he manufactures runs at an exponential rate he will be looking to win a few games single-handedly.
After the Asia Cup, he scored over 400 runs in the format. He can also create pressure on the other team with his ability to rotate the strike and run hard between the wickets. This newfound form and mindset will be crucial for the team.
Everyone is already familiar with his potential to win games for his country across formats and given his ability to perform on the biggest stage, Virat Kolhi will be looking to replicate his performance even in this tournament so that India could lift the trophy again.
Written by Kunsh Khanna
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