In a cautious approach driven by concerns over injuries and a lack of balance, India's World Cup squad selection appears to be dominated by fear of failure.
New Dehli: The team has refrained from bold choices, such as opting for spinners like Yuzvendra Chahal or Ravichandran Ashwin, instead prioritizing lower-order batting strength. This conservative strategy has led to apprehension in the selection process.
The key question revolves around what happens if the lower-order batsmen fail to contribute, or if the spinners like Ashwin or Chahal struggle with both bat and ball. The top order's performance and the ability to outshine opposing spinners like Adam Zampa or Rashid Khan are also sources of concern. Jasprit Bumrah's form and durability over a two-month tournament, as well as the middle-order's reliability, add to the worries.
To address these concerns, the team has opted for stopgap solutions, like including Shardul Thakur as an all-rounder and Axar Patel, who is expected to contribute with the bat while containing runs with his bowling. However, these patchwork adjustments may not be enough if the team's core issues persist.
The selection process reflects apprehension rather than a well-thought-out plan. Only when Suryakumar Yadav failed to perform at No. 4 or No. 5 did the team consider a left-handed option, Ishan Kishan. The initial plan of preparing spinning tracks to suit India's strengths seems to have been abandoned due to a lack of confidence in the batting depth.
Kuldeep Yadav now shoulders the responsibility of taking wickets in the crucial middle overs, while critical runs are expected from the lower order, primarily Hardik Pandya. India's strategy regarding the use of Shami and Bumrah is also uncertain, as fear of a batting collapse may lead them to separate the two.
Overall, the squad selection lacks conviction, and experiments like Umran Malik were abandoned quickly due to a lack of trust. The choice to bench Yuzvendra Chahal during the T20 World Cup also remains a perplexing decision in hindsight.
This ODI World Cup campaign appears to rely heavily on hope rather than a well-defined path to success. The decision to prioritize Ashwin for a T20 tournament in Australia over an ODI competition in India reflects the team's uncertainties regarding their pacers' fitness and lower-order batting.
Ultimately, India's success in the World Cup may hinge on Rohit Sharma's captaincy, strategic brilliance, a touch of luck, and exceptional performances from the selected players.
