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As India prepares to kick off their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign in Group A against Ireland on June 5 in New York, former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh has shared his ideal playing XI for the T20 World Cup. With India’s quest for a major ICC title since their Champions Trophy 2013 victory, anticipation is high for their performance in this tournament.
India’s top order and openers
Speaking on Star Sports show ‘Game Plan’, Harbhajan’s selection sees Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal as the preferred openers, providing a blend of experience and youthful aggression. He slots in Virat Kohli at No. 3, a crucial position that anchors the innings, followed by the dynamic Suryakumar Yadav at No. 4. Notably, he picked Sanju Samson as a wicketkeeper batter over Rishabh Pant at No. 5, citing his impressive recent form as a key factor in the decision.
“According to me, Rohit (Sharma) will play and (Yashasvi) Jaiswal will be there alongside him. Virat Kohli will play at No. 3 and then there is Suryakumar Yadav. Then I will say you should play Sanju because he is in very good form,” Harbhajan said.
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Harbhajan Singh’s choice for middle order and all-rounders
In the middle order, Harbhajan placed Hardik Pandya at No. 6, relying on his explosive batting prowess to provide late-innings impetus. Ravindra Jadeja occupies the No. 7 spot, adding depth to both the batting and bowling departments with his all-round abilities.
“Hardik Pandya at No. 6. Then you will play (Ravindra) Jadeja at No. 7. He is an all-rounder,” the 39-year-old added.
No place for Kuldeep Yadav
For the bowling department, Harbhajan opted for Yuzvendra Chahal as the preferred wrist-spinner over Kuldeep Yadav, highlighting Chahal’s experience and tactical nous. He advocated for a pace-heavy attack, with Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj forming the seam bowling trio.
“Yuzvendra Chahal needs to play in my opinion and then three seamers – Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj,” the Jalandhar-born cricketer stated.
Flexibility and adaptability
Harbhajan further emphasized the flexibility of the lineup, suggesting that Shivam Dube could replace a spinner if the conditions favor pace bowling. He also noted that Kuldeep could come into play as a third spinner on turning tracks, showcasing the adaptability required for success in varying conditions during the tournament.
“I feel there is not much scope for change. If you want to leave out a spinner and bring in Shivam Dube, it would depend on the conditions. If the conditions favor spin, you will want two spinners – a wrist-spinner and Ravindra Jadeja. If it is spinning a lot, you should also add Kuldeep Yadav there. You can reduce one fast bowler. Hardik Pandya will have to bowl then. You will have to tell him that he needs to bowl two or three overs. It could be the first over or in the middle overs when the field is spread so that he first gets the confidence,” Harbhajan concluded.
