Asia Cup Failure: Team India Has A Lot To Introspect!

Once again, Team India faced a humiliating exit from a multi-team tournament. After exiting T20 World Cup 2021 in the group stage, India got knocked out from the Asia Cup in the Super 4 stage. The highly dominant team in the bilateral series is becoming a minnow in the muti-team tournaments.

There is no lack of talent on the Indian side. The mistake lies in the team selection and team balance. There are too many options for the selection committee, and it selects the wrong combination every time.

Let us take Asia Cup, for example.

India won its first two games with a balanced side. But things went wrong when Ravindra Jadeja and Avesh Khan got injured.

For the second game against Pakistan, India roped in Ravi Bishnoi, Rishab Pant, and Deepak Hooda into the playing XI. They omitted in-form Dinesh Karthik to get a left-handed batter.

First of all, Rishab Pant and Deepak Hooda failed in both games. Even on the keeping front, Pant committed a blunder against Sri Lanka.

Hooda, who replaced Jadeja, wasn’t given a chance to bowl at all. Then, what is the point of taking him on the team as an all-rounder?

India also needs to sort out its top order.

KL Rahul shouldn’t be in the playing XI considering his current form. He just returned from injury recovery, and he needs time to regain his rhythm.

Surya Kumar Yadav must be sent at number three, and Virat Kohli should open alongside Rohit Sharma.

India has to replace Pant in T20is with other wicketkeeper-batters like Ishan Kishan or Sanju Samson, who are in great form.

India cannot rely on Bhuvneshwar Kumar on the bowling front in the death overs. They should try giving a chance to Mohammed Shami. Deepak Chahar/Shami/Bumrah or Arshdeep/Chahar/Bumrah should be the frontline bowlers for India.

There are only two months left for the T20 World Cup, and we have to see how the team management finds the right balance for this Indian cricket team.