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India are in a tough group in the Champions Trophy with teams like Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh clubbed with them. So, they will have to play some tough cricket from the very first game against Bangladesh that takes place on February 20 in Dubai. And when one talks about tough cricket and a winning start, team combination is the most important aspect of the game.
With India all set to go in with a sixth bowling option by having Hardik Pandya as the third pacer along with Mohd Shami and Arshdeep Singh, the presence of Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel are sure shots in the playing XI. The only debatable spin slot is between Varun Chakravarty and Kuldeep Yadav.
While sources insisted that both captain Rohit Sharma and coach Gautam Gambhir, as usual, are divided over the choice — Varun could just get the nod ahead of Kuldeep because of Gambhir’s backing. Rohit is also tempted to continue with Kuldeep because of his sheet record in past few matches. Rohit’s choices have been crushed by Gambhir in the last few months because of the former’s poor form and another round of drama could happen about Varun and Kuldeep.
Like in the T20 series against England, if India would go in with a four spin option (since there are five in the CT squad) and Hardik sharing the new ball with Shami or Arshdeep, the bowling looks quite sorted out. With so much talk about Rishabh Pant not getting a game against England in the ODI series and chief selector Ajit Agarkar backing him to be in the playing XI, KL Rahul is already under pressure to perform or perish.
The team management is happy that KL is adding depth to an already power-packed top-order at No. 6, but that’s not the position he would want to bat at. With Rohit, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer and Axar at five, KL is only left with this slot to make most of it. The batting line-up is so strong that even a Pant kind of a match-winner can get into it. Hope, this Indian team makes most of it!
