More Worries for Team India Ahead of World Cup:
More Worries for Team India Ahead of World Cup, With the 50-over World Cup less than two months away, India is still looking for a batter at the No.4 slot. The team is still experimenting and searching for the perfect eleven. The middle order is uncertain and unstable; the bowling combination needs to be more specific. This is the time when good teams look to polish their tactics and combinations rather than deciding on the player for a particular spot.
Injuries of Key Performers:
Indian captain Rohit Sharma is unsure about getting a settled batter at the number four position ahead of the World Cup at home. Shreyas Iyer’s injury has become a concern for the Indian team as no batter got settled at the No.4 spot after Rishabh Pant.“For a long period of time, Shreyas has actually batted at number four and he has done well– his numbers are really good. Unfortunately, injuries have given him a bit of trouble. He’s been out for a while and that is honestly what has happened in the last four to five years.”
“Number four has been an issue for us for a long time,” Rohit told reporters in Mumbai.
Since all-rounder Yuvraj Singh’s retirement in 2017, India has tried a dozen players at that spot, with only Iyer and Pant batting more than ten times. Iyer has not played international cricket since March due to a lower back injury. Pant’s horrific car crash last December slims his chances of making the World Cup.“A lot of these guys have got injured, and you will always see a new guy coming and playing there,” he further said.
KL Rahul, also recovering from a thigh injury, has resumed batting in the nets but is still determining about the Asia Cup beginning later this month. Shreyas and Rahul are coming off after severe injuries and did not play any cricket for four months.
“I had to undergo surgery once, and I know how it feels afterward. It is quite tough. We have to see how they respond and what they do. The selection (meeting) will be in a few days; we will have a good debate about what we can do (regarding them),” Rohit said.
No one’s spot in the team is sealed yet, and everyone has to fight for slots” throughout the interaction. “We have got a lot of names there. We will see what is the right combination for us to go in the World Cup, but before we have the Asia Cup,” he said.
Players Who Performed Well in Recent Times:
From Ajinkya Rahane and Kedar Jadhav to KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, several players were tried at that position, but the slot still needs to be confirmed due to the injuries of many players. There are a few names for the number four spot, like Tilak Varma, Surya Kumar Yadav, and Sanju Samson, who have performed well in the absence of these stalwarts.
Inclusion of Jasprit Bumrah & Ravindra Jadeja:
Bowling, too, is the main concern for the Indian team. The fitness of Jasprit Bumrah would be keenly inspected. The participation of spin all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is still not confirmed. Spin bowling will play a big part in the world cup. The spin bowlers will get a lot of help in the middle overs.
Aspiration to Win a World Cup on Home Soil:
India won their last World Cup in 2011 under the captaincy of MS Dhoni, but Rohit knew how tough it could be. “Honestly, I have never won a (50 overs) World Cup; it’s a dream to win a World Cup.“You don’t get World Cup on a platter, you have to work hard, and that is what we have been doing all these years,” Rohit further said.
