India prepares for T20 World Cup, 2022
T20 World Cup 2021 is not even over yet but the T20 world cup 2022 has already started trending.
While we still do not have a winner of the 2021 T20 world cup, the international tournament is essentially over for the Indian supporters after a dismal performance by the team.
The Indian team still has a match against Namibia to play before they catch their flights back home. However, there is no significance of the match as both the teams are already out of the competition. Nonetheless, cricket veterans and players are asking fans to come and show support for the Indian side against Namibia instead of heading back home.
The performance of the Indian players has shown that money is not the only thing that controls the sport. BCCI is the highest funded cricket board in the world. The cricketers also receive a lot of support and promotion money from the Indian fans and companies respectively.
It is time for a quite introspection by the management as India has not been able to win any global title since 2013. The last global title won by India was the Champions Trophy, 2013 under the captainship of M.S Dhoni, who is currently serving as the mentor of team India in UAE.
Qualifying for T20 world cup, 2022
The Indian team has saved its face a little as it has still not slipped to the point where it will be unsure about its entry in T20 world cup 2022.
The rule states that top 8 teams from the T20 rankings till 20th November, 2021 will be given a direct entry into the T20 world 2022. The 8 teams which have been able to save their seats for T20 world cup 2022 are- England, Pakistan, India, New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
The surprise entry of Afghanistan was made possible by the team effort and the perseverance shown over the years, even while their nation was taken over by a hostile Taliban.
However, there is no mention of Sri Lanka and West Indies in the top 8 list, which means that the two cricket teams will have to win in the qualifiers before catching their flights to Australia, the venue for T20 world cup 2022. West Indies was the winner of the last edition of the T20 world cup in 2016.
Indian game plan
A lot of people have made several suggestions for the Indian team to get back on track.
VVS Laxman, the veteran cricketer has also shared his opinion and emphasized that the Australia’s condition is not suitable for swing bowlers, India needs to find a couple of fast bowlers who can extract bounce and offer flexibility throughout the three phases of the bowling innings.
“Yeah, I think it is very important to identify a couple of bowlers who bowl quick because the conditions in Australia will be totally different, where I’m not sure the ball will swing too much. But having someone who can bowl quick, extract the bounce and pace of that wicket and at the same time can use the variations because you want someone who can also finish off the innings well with the ball,” he said on Star Sports show ‘Game Plan’.
Laxman also opined that India needs to find a batsman who is good with bowl as well to have a sixth or a seventh bowling option, this option will reduce the pressure on the captain. “We know Hardik (Pandya) has been struggling with his fitness” said Laxman.
In other changes, Captain Virat Kohli has announced he will stop serving as the captain post T20 world cup 2021.
BCCI has also roped in the retired “wall” Rahul Dravid to replace the current coach Ravi Shashtri.
Rahul Dravid was hesitant to join the Indian team as a coach but he thankfully gave in to the request, according to the sources.
Before this he was Head Coach for the India Under-19 and India A teams from 2016 to 2019. Under his coaching, under-19 team was runners up at 2016 u-19 Cricket World Cup and were winners at 2018 u-19 Cricket World Cup.