The Super 12 round of the T20 World Cup 2021 will begin with Australia taking on South Africa in the first Group 1 encounter at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, October 23. India and Pakistan face off in their first league game on October 24. India have won five times against their arch-rivals in the tournament.
Team India have selected an all-round squad and on a given day every 15 player who are selected in the squad can turn up and feature in the XI. However, injury and form concerns of a few players might hinder them from featuring in the final XI for the game.
Taking everything into account, here how India’s playing XI might look like against Pakistan.
1. KL Rahul
Rahul has been batting like a dream in recent times. He notched up over 600 runs in IPL 2021 and scored in both the warm-up games India played in the build-up to the big game.
The wicketkeeper-batsman will open the batting for India and can provide fast start to the team. He has also developed a style of play that allows him to bat through till the very end. If that happens against Pakistan, India can set a target of close to 200 runs if they bat first.
2. Rohit Sharma
Over the years, Rohit has been a proven matchwinner. He has two T20 World Cups tons to his name and a century in the ICC 2019 World Cup against Pakistan.
He can certainly score another T20I century and no better team than Pakistan to do it.
3. Virat Kohli
Kohli transforms himself into a batsman of a very different league in ICC events. He is short of runs in recent times and had a below-par IPL as well.
Kohli will be leading in the format the very last time and has confirmed that he will bat at number three. He will set his sight on not only winning the title but also contributing substantially with the bat.
4. Suryakumar Yadav/Ishan Kishan
It may either be Suryakumar Yadav or Ishan Kishan batting at number four for India. Chances look bright for Surya as there are two wicketkeeper batsmen in the XI already with Rahul and Pant.
Both the players found a bit of their lost form in the fag end of the IPL and the two warm-up games.
5. Rishabh Pant
Another left-hander in Rishabh Pant can bat at number five for India in the playing XI. Pant can start hitting the ball from the get-go and has developed a waiting game as well.
Both of his facets will be interesting to watch as the opponent are yet to discover his playing potential. Pant can have a good game against Pakistan.
6. Hardik Pandya
Pandya can play as a pure batsman at number six for India. There was a lot of debate about his inclusion in the squad with him being unable to bowl. However, now that is included, his big-hitting power might be needed death overs.
It will be also interesting to see if he eventually bowls in this T20 World Cup.
7. Ravindra Jadeja
Jadeja at number seven lengthens the Indian batting line-up. Pant, Pandya and Jadeja form a formidable trio for India in the death overs who can hit the ball at will in the final overs.
Jadeja’s fielding credentials and his miserably bowling spells makes him an automatic choice in any playing XI in the format.
8. Bhuvneshwar Kumar
He was costly in the warm-up games but Bhuvi’s experience in big matches can never be counted out. His injuries have been a bigger concern off late rather than his form. He will be one of the two pacers in the playing XI.
9. Jasprit Bumrah
Bumrah has been in good bowling form since the UAE leg of the IPL started. He ended with 21 wickets for the season and got most of his wickets in the second half of the season.
This is Bumrah’s second T20 World Cup in India colours and he has been a much-improved bowler since his debut tournament.
10. Varun Chakravarthy
The mystery spinner can be India’s trump card against Pakistan in the marquee clash. Varun was hugely impressive in the UAE leg and took more than 10 wickets in the second leg of the tournament.
World cricket is yet to know about India’s mystery bowler and that is where he can be used as a wicket-taking option by skipper Virat Kohli.
11. Rahul Chahar
Chahar can be India’s third spinner in their five-man bowling attack. He was included in the T20 World Cup squad on the back of his good performances in the IPL and he can be used in the middle-overs by Kohli to dry up the runs off the opposition.
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