With India preparing to play the Asia Cup in the UAE, beginning September 9, the focus is on the team selection before the men T20 World Cup next February. Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee will announce the team on Tuesday. Some of these decisions may indicate the heart of the World Cup strategy of India.
Opening Dilemma: Gill, Jaiswal, or Samson?
In the past 12 T20Is, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson have been India opening pair. Abhisekh made a name in the England series earlier this year, hitting 279 runs at a strike rate of 219.68 with a 54 ball 135 at Wankhede. The other strength is his left-arm spin that has yielded three wickets in five overs.
Samson has been inconsistent however. His match was spoilt by injury and loss of England fast bowler Jofra Archer. He was earlier magnificent against South Africa and Bangladesh where he scored three centuries in five innings.
There is a high chance of Abhishek playing, but Samson may have to make way in case Shubman Gill or Yashasvi Jaiswal is selected to open. Jaiswal was the back-up opener in India during the T20 World Cup last year. Gill, who is the Test captain, was a travelling reserve and has since captained in Zimbabwe and vice-captained in Sri Lanka.
Middle-Order Conundrum: Tilak Varma vs Shreyas Iyer
Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel are cemented in India middle order. There are two or three positions to be won. No. 3 could be a fight between Tilak Varma and Shreyas Iyer.
Tilak was impressive in South Africa where he scored two centuries and 280 runs at a strike rate of 198.48. But his IPL was not good as he scored 343 runs in 13 innings with an average of 138.30. Shreyas, on the other hand, dazzled for Punjab Kings in IPL 2025, hitting a 175.07 strike rate, second only to Chris Gayle (2011) and Suryakumar (2023) among 600+ run seasons.
Should they both be in the running for No. 3, then the selectors could look at a middle-order finisher who can also be a second keeper in case Samson is not selected. A probable choice is Jitesh Sharma who has done well in that role in RCB.
Spin Options: Kuldeep, Varun, and Batting Balance
The injury to Kuldeep Yadav saw Varun Chakravarthy get an opportunity during India T20Is against England. Varun led the wickets table with 14 wickets in five games at an economy of 7.66, was called up to an ODI squad at the last minute, and an ICC Champions Trophy in UAE with Kuldeep.
Both spinners could play so India might lose batting depth or play one specialist seamer and use Hardik as a second pace option as in the Champions Trophy.
Seamer and Lower-Middle Order Battles
India, the best T20 wicket-taker, Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh are likely to start should they be fit. The third seamer slot can be occupied by the IPL 2025 purple cap winner Prasidh Krishna or Harshit Rana who made his debut against England.
Injuries and competition influence the decisions in the lower-middle order. Nitish Kumar Reddy is wounded. Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, Riyan Parag and Rinku Singh are contending. Rinku could lose his advantage, in case the selectors are keen on an all-rounder.
Dube has been a regular player and has topped the run charts in IPL 2025 when fit. Parag is back after injury and has not played since Bangladesh almost a year ago. Ramandeep Singh and Vipraj Nigam are new faces this time and offer new options, yet they did not fare that well in their IPL seasons. Nigam was the best performer with 11 wickets and 142 runs and Ramandeep did not fare well with the bat with 47 runs in seven innings.
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