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The left-right combo has worked like magic for the Indian cricket team in the past — both in bilateral series and ICC tournaments. India has always looked a better side with a left-right combination and is able to seize the maximum advantage against opponents. Therefore, naturally, the team management will look to do the same in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
To maximize the potential of left-handers like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, and Axar Patel — India could maintain a left-right combo throughout the T20 World Cup.
The Indian team missed the left-right combo in the last 50-over 2023 World Cup because there was only one left-hander batter in Ravindra Jadeja.
The Indian top-order had only right-handers with captain Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer and Surya Kumar Yadav.
The left-right combo kept the opposition bowling attack on its toes and helped India in the past.
The 2007 T20 World Cup win was possible because of three lefties — Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, and Irfan Pathan. The 2011 World Cup triumph over Sri Lanka was another success story because of the left-right combo.
India had the services of Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, and Suresh Raina, which enhanced India’s chances massively.
Despite the chorus getting louder for Virat Kohli opening the innings with Rohit Sharma, the Indian team could be looking at Jaiswal opening the innings either with Rohit or Virat as a part of a strategy to break the monotony.
By chance, Dube plays in the XI, along with Pant and Jadeja — their presence could also add more variety and depth to the batting resources.
Likes of Surya Kumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya can do their bit too. That will make it a solid batting line-up, along with four bowlers, including Jadeja.
Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, and Kuldeep Yadav would be the strike bowling choices, while Hardik and Dube can fill the fifth bowler slot. But the question remains: Will the Indian team management prefer another left-hander in Axar Patel instead of Dube? Through this, the left-right combo will remain intact throughout the Indian innings.
