The T20 World Cup of 2021 will take place in India while the 2022 event will be hosted by Australia.
India and England will be playing their fifth and final T20I at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday. The series and the players included in the squads are all selected keeping in mind the upcoming T20 World Cup in 2021 and 2022.
The shortest format of the game is scheduled during those years and while the first one will be held in India, Australia will host the second event.
Like other countries, even India is preparing for the World Cup and are trying to find the best possible combination. They did try out quite a few players and different combinations during the ongoing series against England.
So while they will be looking to play their best XI, having a solid backup option on the bench is also quite important. So here’s a look at position wise back-up in the T20I World Cup for India.
1. Shikhar Dhawan for Rohit Sharma
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If one goes according to what Indian skipper Virat Kohli has said then KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma are his first-choice openers. This makes things difficult for Shikhar Dhawan.
However, he did play the first T20I against England after Rohit was rested but failed to make use of the chance and scored just 4 runs in 12 balls. Thus, he was dropped for the 2nd game.
However, he will still be with the squad as a backup given his IPL performances and decent T20I stats.
The 'Gabbar' has scored 1673 runs in 65 T20Is at an average of 27.88 while scoring at 127.41. The left-handed batsman in IPL scored 618 runs at a strike rate of nearly 145 and thus could be a backup opener.
2. Ishan Kishan for KL Rahul
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Ishan Kishan made his international debut in the second T20I against England and had replaced Shikhar Dhawan at the top of the order. He scored 56 off just 32 balls and became the 2nd Indian batsman to have scored a fifty on his T20I debut.
However, he wasn't able to repeat his heroics in the 3rd T20I and scored just 4 runs from 9 deliveries.
Despite that, his fearless approach could see him earn a spot in the team if KL Rahul's poor form continues.
3. Suryakumar Yadav for Virat Kohli
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One man who could replace India's No. 3 batsman Virat Kohli is Suryakumar Yadav. The man also made his debut in the 2nd T20I, however, unlike Ishan Kishan he didn't get a chance to bat.
As a result, he was left out for the 3rd game, but got a chance in the 4th and scored a smashing 50. The 30-year-old has also scored 480 runs in 16 IPL games at a strike rate of 145.01 while maintaining an average of 40 in 2020.
The Mumbai Indians (MI) batsman also has the ability to be aggressive and his 360-degree range could help India at the No. 3 spot.
4. Manish Pandey for Shreyas Iyer
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While Shreyas Iyer ended all speculations for who should play at the debatable No. 4 spot, now India are left with many options thanks to Rishabh Pant returning back to form.
Iyer could also be replaced by Manish Pandey who has always been in and out of the playing XI. He has managed to retain his place in the 15-man squad for a decent amount of time.
He was even part of the squad against Australia and played just one game, where he scored 2 runs in 8 balls. He injured himself and returned to action and played the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
He has been competing with Iyer for the place in the team for quite some time. In general, Pandey has scored 709 runs in 39 games at an average of 44.31 while striking at 126.15.
5. Sanju Samson for Rishabh Pant
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Though chances of Rishabh Pant being replaced are less, if injury strikes, then the person who could come in his place could be Sanju Samson.
However, Samson wasn't able to establish himself as he scored just 48 runs in 3 games in the T20I matches against Australia. His form during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy too didn't help him and Pant's outstanding form in the Test meant that he had to make way.
Now with three players capable of keeping wickets in the current squad - including KL Rahul - Samson will have to do something extraordinary during the IPL to get back into the squad.
With the Asia Cup around the corner, he could have an opportunity as Pant and KL Rahul would be busy with the World Test Championship (WTC).
6. Rahul Tewatia for Hardik Pandya
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Rahul Tewatia did receive his first-ever international call-up on the back of a good campaign with the Rajasthan Royals (RR) against England but did not get game time.
The 27-year-old had said to have failed the fitness test and it was said that he might be removed from the squad. However, he is still present with the team and bowling in the nets.
If he clears the fitness test in the future, he most likely would be part of the T20I squads for the next series.
Last season of IPL, he scored 255 runs in 14 games at an average of 42.5 and was scoring at 140. He also picked up 10 wickets while conceding at just 7.08. His T20 strike rate is 150 and is one of India's better options to play at No. 6 in place of Hardik Pandya.
However, if Tewatia fails to pass the test, Vijay Shankar or Shivam Dube may stand a chance.
7. Washington Sundar for Ravindra Jadeja
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Came in place of Ravindra Jadeja (Who suffered an injury), Washington Sundar has almost cemented his spot. The 21-year-old had made his IPL debut in 2017, and was also been a part of India's T20 squad since then.
Last season, Sundar picked up 8 wickets in 15 games while maintaining an economy rate of 5.96. In 29 T20Is, he picked up 25 wickets at a strike rate of 23.6 and an economy of 6.95.
If Chahal’s poor form and Sundar's excellent form continues, he might become a first-choice player at the expense of the leggie.
8. Shardul Thakur for Bhuvneshwar Kumar
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Power hitter and pacer Shardul Thakur has played in all 3 T20Is against England, however, he is unlikely to be India's first-choice bowler.
The Men in Blue have Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and T Natarajan and Thakur would probably be the 2nd or 3rd choice pace backup when all players are available.
Overall, he has 25 wickets to his name in 20 matches at a good strike rate of 16.2, but his economy rate of 8.9 is a bit too high.
While he is decent during the powerplay and in the middle overs, he tends to leak runs during the death overs. However, he has an advantage with his batting which is quite useful.
9. Deepak Chahar for Mohammed Shami
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Currently out due to injury Mohammed Shami missed the series against England. While all wait for his recovery, Deepak Chahar could get a chance in place of him.
Chahar has the ability to swing the ball both ways is one of the world's best swing bowlers during his peak. In 13 T20Is for India, he has picked up 18 wickets at a strike rate of 15.6
He had also broken the record for best figures in T20Is when he picked up 6/7 against Bangladesh.
10. T Natarajan for Jasprit Bumrah
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While Jasprit Bumrah is missing in action due to his wedding, T Natarajan would get a chance in the ODI series. The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) bowler went from not playing an IPL game for 2 consecutive seasons to making his debut in all 3 formats.
Natarajan was excellent in the IPL and picked up 16 wickets in 16 games at a strike rate of 23.56 while conceding at just over 8.
His ability to bowl yorker after yorker is has provided India with a quality backup option in the death bowling department. In three T20Is, he picked up 6 wickets at a strike rate of 12 and conceded at just 6.91.
11. Varun Chakravarthy for Yuzvendra Chahal
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Varun Chakravarthy got called twice to play for India but somehow he missed them. For the Australia series, he was injured and for the England series, he did not pass the test.
Despite all that, Chakravarthy would still be considered due to his good season in the IPL. If he manages to pass the fitness test, he will be picked in the squad for other games in the future.
Chakravarthy was outstanding for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) last season and picked up 17 wickets in 13 games at a strike rate of 18.35. He conceded just 6.84.
The mystery spinner might replace Chahal when picked given that the latter has been in poor form. If Chakravarthy fails to pass the test yet again then Rahul Chahar or even Ravi Bishnoi may stand a chance.
