DUBAI: Indian team management may attribute the poor Asian Cup performance to their eagerness to experiment with the combination, but they don’t have much time to make up their minds on picking a team for the T20 World Cup.
TOI understands that the Board of Cricket of India (BCCI) intends to choose their team on September 16. As the deadline approaches, selectors and team management worry about the fitness of the first pacer. Jasprit Bumrah.
Bumrah has been out of action since the England tour in July due to a back injury. Harshal Patel is also recovering from a rib injury.
“Bumrah has not yet been declared fit. He is going to be at the NCA this week ahead of selection. The World Cup is still over a month away. Therefore, his selection will be made taking that into consideration,” a BCCI source told TOI.
India head coach Rahul Dravid has claimed that the two leaders will join the squad when available. However, it will be interesting to see how the team’s management handles the two point guards from now on. In all likelihood, most of the players selected for the World Cup will play in the two home T20I series against South Africa and Australia over the next month.
The team’s management has been very careful about preserving its players for the showpiece event. According to sources, the key would be to get Bumrah into physical shape. The number of matches he plays in the next month will be interesting. The team would like Bumrah to play full throttle at the World Cup, but they don’t want to push him over the top either.
India’s pace attack lacked teeth in the Asian Cup. India struggled to find attacking playmakers after the opener against Pakistan. Captain Rohit Sharma had to rely on spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravichandran Ashwin to seek wickets.
Deepak Chahar’s arrival for the final game against Afghanistan signals that he is ready to fly to Australia. The team’s management monitored his progress throughout the tournament. His ability to beat the order also works in his favor.
The team management had selected a pool of leaders for the T20 format in February itself. Mohammed Shami was passed over for the format. It will be interesting to see if the managers decide to fall back on him with so little time left for the World Cup.
TOI understands that the Board of Cricket of India (BCCI) intends to choose their team on September 16. As the deadline approaches, selectors and team management worry about the fitness of the first pacer. Jasprit Bumrah.
Bumrah has been out of action since the England tour in July due to a back injury. Harshal Patel is also recovering from a rib injury.
“Bumrah has not yet been declared fit. He is going to be at the NCA this week ahead of selection. The World Cup is still over a month away. Therefore, his selection will be made taking that into consideration,” a BCCI source told TOI.
India head coach Rahul Dravid has claimed that the two leaders will join the squad when available. However, it will be interesting to see how the team’s management handles the two point guards from now on. In all likelihood, most of the players selected for the World Cup will play in the two home T20I series against South Africa and Australia over the next month.
The team’s management has been very careful about preserving its players for the showpiece event. According to sources, the key would be to get Bumrah into physical shape. The number of matches he plays in the next month will be interesting. The team would like Bumrah to play full throttle at the World Cup, but they don’t want to push him over the top either.
India’s pace attack lacked teeth in the Asian Cup. India struggled to find attacking playmakers after the opener against Pakistan. Captain Rohit Sharma had to rely on spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravichandran Ashwin to seek wickets.
Deepak Chahar’s arrival for the final game against Afghanistan signals that he is ready to fly to Australia. The team’s management monitored his progress throughout the tournament. His ability to beat the order also works in his favor.
The team management had selected a pool of leaders for the T20 format in February itself. Mohammed Shami was passed over for the format. It will be interesting to see if the managers decide to fall back on him with so little time left for the World Cup.
