ICC T20 World Cup 2021: India’s Predicted Playing XI

The Indian cricket team has established a niche for itself in the 20-over format of the sport. There have been various instances where the Indian side completely devastated other teams at home as well as in foreign conditions.

Speaking about India’s performance this year, the Men in Blue managed to win three T20I series, of which one was at home and the other two were played on overseas pitches. Now ahead of the ICC 2021 T20 World Cup, a majority of the cricketing world expects India to perform well at home grounds.

At cricketbettingtips.io, we’ve created a list of players that will likely be a part of the playing XI for ICC T20 World Cup 2021. If you’re someone who’s interested in cricket betting online, then we also offer some of the best cricket betting tips that will help you in elevating your cricket betting experience. Also, we have various cricket betting guides and resources to help you get started with cricket betting online.

Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma has always been one of the best opening batsmen in ODI and T20 matches. He is the first player in ODI history who has three double centuries to his name, telling us what talent and skill he has.

An injury issue caused the “hitman” to stay out of the recently concluded T20I series against Australia. However, he was in great form during the 13th edition of the IPL and under his captaincy, Mumbai Indians lifted the coveted IPL trophy for the fifth time.

Speaking of the numbers in T20I cricket, the right-handed batsman has amassed 2,773 runs in 100 innings at an average of 32.24 and strike rate of 138.79. Besides, Rohit has scored 4 centuries and 21 half-centuries in T20I cricket.

Given the success of MI in IPL 2020, a few fans have opined that Sharma should lead the Indian team in the T20 World Cup. While there’s no doubt that Virat Kohli will continue his captaincy, Rohit would surely feature as a specialist batsman in the team.

Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan has crafted a name for himself with his stellar performances in international cricket. Generally, the cricketing world has seen that even big names fail to deliver consistent performances at the ICC level tournaments. However, Dhawan is a unique player who is at his best in big competitions.

Speaking of the T20I record, Dhawan has aggregated 1,669 runs in 62 innings at a strike rate of 128.89. With 11 half-centuries in the T20I format, the Southpaw also registered back-to-back centuries while playing for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2020. His performance in the white-ball cricket has been on a par with some of the best cricketers in the world.

Selecting the team’s openers might be one of the most conundrums for the Indian team management, but Shikhar Dhawan will most likely retain his position. His record at the big events has been much better than other options available on the Indian side.

KL Rahul

An elegant batsman who has the ability to keep wicket in a crisis, KL Rahul is one of the most highly rated cricketers in India’s next generation. The Karnataka born has achieved much success as an opening batsman in white-ball cricket. However, he will bat at the number three position in ICC T20 World Cup 2021. This is because Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan tend to form the best opening duos.

In case of a crisis, Rahul has the potential to stabilize the innings. If needed, he can also start smashing the ball beyond the boundary line without taking much time. Thus, he will be best suited in the number three position in the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Virat Kohli

Daring, fiercely talented and extremely dedicated, Virat Kohli is one of the finest batsmen that Indian cricket team has ever had. With the ability to hit balls at a particular spot to any part of the ground, Kohli has crafted a name for himself in the Indian cricket team.

Many cricket fans would feel that number four might not be the best position for captain Kohli. However, looking at the top three options that team India has right now, Kohli might have to bat outside of the top 3 in the T20 World Cup.

Speaking of his T20I records, the right-handed batsman has amassed 2928 runs in just 79 innings at an average of 50.48 and strike rate of 138.44. Kohli has batted at the number four 14 times, where he has aggregated 422 runs at an average of 42.20.

Manish Pandey

Manish Pandey – a name that will forever be remembered as the first Indian to score a century in the IPL. The aggressive middle-order batsman has struggled with his consistency in recent times. But Pandey hasn’t received a longer run in the T20I team.  

His statistics in T20I are decent. In 33 innings, Pandey has scored 709 runs at an average of 44.31 and strike rate of 126.16. He had played 15 innings at the number five position where he scored 357 runs, with the highest being 79*.

Manish has a lot of experience of playing in the Indian conditions. He can alter the course of the game in a few balls. Also, his excellent fielding skills can help in saving runs for his side in the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Hardik Pandya

With intricate tattoos and peroxide highlights, Hardik Pandya perfectly encapsulates the charisma of a modern-day Indian cricketer. Pandya is renowned for his exploits in white-ball cricket and will play a prominent role in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2021.

The all-rounder has been the key to his team’s success in the 20-over format. Recently, he also received the Player of the Series award in the T20 series between Indian and Australia. Given his ability to turn the course of the game in his team’s favour by his batting, bowling and fielding, Pandya will be a great asset in the competition.

Washington Sundar

Washington Sundar failed to make much of an impact in the initial T20 international games he played. However, his IPL 2020 season with RCB has helped him garner the tag of India’s top 20 off-spinner.

In the T20 World Cup, Sundar will be responsible for taking a few key wickets in the early innings. Also, as the matches will be conducted on the Indian pitches, Sundar’s presence will assist captain Kohli in powerplay overs.

Yuzvendra Chahal

Yuzvendra Chahal will back Washington Sundar in the spin bowling department at the ICC T20 World Cup. In the recent T20I series, Chahal came as a substitute for Ravindra Chahal and some game-changing deliveries helped him garner the Man of the Match trophy. Just like Hardik Pandya, Chahal is an impact player and has the ability to turn the course of the game in just one over.

Jasprit Bumrah

Arguably India’s best bowler across all formats, Jasprit Bumrah has played 50 T20I games till date, where he accounted for 59 scalps for his side. The Gujarat-born has an economy rate of 6.42 at home which is slightly better than his rate of 6.88 matches at away matches. Given his excellent bowling average and strike rate, he would be the apt choice for India’s fast bowling department.

Mohammad Shammi

Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, who made an excellent start in the 13th edition of the IPL, has not been able to play in the past few months due to injuries. As there remains a huge question mark on his fitness, the Indian management side would likely give the second fast bowler’s spot in the playing XI to Mohammed Shammi. Shami has been in excellent form of late and remains a solid candidate to form a partnership with Jasprit Bumrah.

T Natrajan

T Natrajan could be the ‘X-factor’ for the Indian team in the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup. The young gun accounted for six scalps in his debut T20 season and can form a lethal combination with Bumrah and Shammi. He can be the left-arm fast bowler in the Indian pace attack at the World Cup. Given his talent and skill, he will surely be a great addition to the team.