Team India start their Super 8 journey after topping the Group A in the league-stage. They are set to play Afghanistan on June 20, at Bridgetown, in Barbados.
Ahead of the game against Afghanistan, head coach Rahul Dravid has hinted at a change in the bowling mix for the knockouts. The change could see the inclusion of wrist spinners in the playing XI.
Team India have gone for a pacer-friendly line-up so far in the tournament. With the unawares of the pitches in the USA, the Men in Blue opted for spin-bowling all-rounders over specialist spinners in the playing XI in the group stages.
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What did Rahul Dravid say about the bowling changes for the Super 8s?
Rahul Dravid has hinted at the inclusion of the spin-twins, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal (fondly called KulCha) in the playing XI. The duo is yet to feature in the tournament, after sitting out the whole of the United States leg of the T20 World Cup 2024.
Kuldeep and Chahal could prove to be match-winners on the turning-pitches in the Windies. Moreover, the spinners have been decisive in the Caribbean, even during the games so far at the T20 World Cup 2024.
Ahead of the Super 8 clash against Afghanistan, Dravid has hinted over a change in the playing combination.
"Wrist spinners will come into play sooner in the tournament", Dravid said ahead of the game on Thursday.
Rahul Dravid hinted "Wrist spinners will come into play sooner in the tournament". pic.twitter.com/wD1piUhibM
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 19, 2024
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What could be Team India's combination in Super 8 matches?
With the wrist-spinners likely to come into the mix, the Indian bowling unit would be hampered. Having gone unchanged so far, the inclusion of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav would be the first set of changes made by Rahul Dravid at the T20 World Cup 2024.
Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja played the matches in the United States, providing that extra cushion to the batting unit. However, with the pitches in Windies being rather familiar, team India are expected to throw their ace-cards in the playing XI.
One would expect India to include at least two spin-bowling options for the Super 8 games in West Indies. KulCha's potential inclusion could be a straight-swap, or a change in the bowling combination.
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India have used six bowling options so far at the World Cup - four pacers and two spinners. The likes of Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and Arshdeep Singh would be considered as untouchables in the bowling department.
If the management opts for a change in the bowling combination, then Mohammad Siraj could be the one sacrificed. If not, then either or both of Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel could make way but that is highly unlikely. One of Jadeja or Axar will play and that is most likely the former, thanks to the immense trust Rohit Sharma and Dravid have on him.
If only one of Kuldeep Yadav or Yuzvendra Chahal is selected:
Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, or Mohammad Siraj could be dropped.
If both Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal are selected:
One or both of Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja, and/or Mohammad Siraj could be omitted from the Playing XI.
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