The 2022 edition of the T20 World Cup is scheduled to take place in less than two months’ time in Australia. This year, like every other previous edition, the Indian team will start as one of the favourites for the title, but it will be interesting to see if they can really go all the way and win the first world T20 title since the 2007 edition.
This year, India will take part in an ICC event under Rohit Sharma’s leadership for the first time. The 35-year-old has so far enjoyed a perfect record in his captaincy and is yet to lose any series. He was made the full-time India captain last year and since then has won all the bilateral series he has featured in, whether it is at home or away.
But his first big test will come up in the Asia Cup T20Is, which will start on August 27 and then in the T20 World Cup. Rohit has won five IPL titles as captain in the last 10 editions, and it will be interesting to see if he can replicate that same success with the senior Indian team as well.
Rohit, who is on break these days, recently opened up about India’s preparations for the upcoming big matches and tournaments and said that most of the players for the T20 World Cup have been finalized, but there could be a few late changes in the team.
According to him, Rohit is confident that 80-90% of the team is already done. Although Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel will miss the tournament, the Asia Cup 2022 will give a fair idea of the playing XI.
“There are still about two-and-a-half months left for the T20 World Cup. Before that, we have the Asia Cup and two home series against Australia and South Africa. So, more or less 80-90 per cent of your team is set, of course there could be three-four changes if at all depending on the conditions,” Rohit was quoted as saying by The Times of India.
As per Rohit, the only changes will be due to the change in conditions in Australia compared to that of the United Arab Emirates. Due to the bouncy pitches in Australia, India will have to go pace-heavy, which could mean the return of Mohammed Shami in the T20I squad if Bumrah or Harshal misses out.
“As of now, we have been playing in India and will play in the UAE, so the conditions in Australia will be different. We need to check what suits our team in Australia,” Rohit added.
