India announce 12-member squad for 1st T20I: Sportsrush presents before you India’s 12-member squad for the first T20I vs Australia.
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Continuing on a trend which was commenced during the recently concluded Windies’ tour of India, the Indian cricket team has announced a 12-member squad on the eve of the first T20I against Australia at Brisbane.
Out of the 16-member squad for the T20I series, the team management has shied away from trying anything out-of-the-box first up. Hence, announcing an anticipated squad for the first match of the much-awaited India’s tour of Australia.
It is all in likeliness of the Indian team to field a similar Top Four which had played when the last time captain Virat Kohli played a T20I for India, i.e., during the tour of England earlier this year. With India winning that series 2-1, there isn’t much sense in tinkering with it.
Therefore, the Indian Top Four is highly likely to comprise of Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Lokesh Rahul and Virat Kohli tomorrow. The wicket-keeping duo of Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik are subsequently expected to bat at No. 5 and 6 respectively.
During the T20Is against Windies, Karthik had kept wickets for India. Interestingly, India have named Pant as the wicket-keeper in the squad which seems a better option as Karthik is a better out-fielder than Pant. On large Australian surfaces, that might come of an advantage for the Indians.
It is after the No. 6 that the team management will have to do a considerable amount of pondering. Not because India don’t have a settled bowling unit, but because they don’t have a fast-bowling all-rounder and none of their Top 6 bowls.
While India have a possible option of playing Krunal Pandya as an all-rounder, it will affect their bowling unit for both Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav possess more threat for the Australian batsmen. Since India can’t afford to play three spinners an two pacers in Australian conditions, taking the field with your best batsmen and bowlers (with only five options available) seems to be the best possible route for Team India.
India announce 12-member squad for 1st T20I
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