T20 World Cup 2022: Team India's SWOT Analysis - strengths, weakness, full squad & more

Form at Twenty20 World Cup has been something of an amaly for India since it won inaugural title in 2007.

India sts cricket’s biggest and most lucrative franchise T20 competition, which regularly features biggest stars of international game as well homegrown stars such as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

national team boasts some of finest batters and bowlers in both spin and pace departments, and allrounders who can make a difference.

Yet India hasn’t won T20 world title since very first in South Africa, and has only reached final once in six subsequent editions.

Even last year, as host, India didn’t make it out of group st in a surprising run that included losses to arch rival Pakistan and eventual finalist New Zealand.

For context, though, rules in place for COVID-19 pandemic meant India was host in name and funding only, with all games played in United Arab Emirates or Oman.

So Rohit’s so-called Men in Blue are desperate to turn things around in Australia.

Team India's GROUP

After ufficial warmups against Australia on Monday and New Zealand on Wednesday in Brisbane, India’s campaign will start with a blockbuster against Pakistan on Oct. 23 at Melbourne Cricket Ground, which is sold out. It will n play Bangladesh and South Africa, as well as two qualifiers from first round.

India has been acclimatizing in Western Australia, where it had a win and a loss in practice games against a West Australian XI.

REGROUP

Following last year's T20 World Cup embarrassment in UAE, India made some changes to composition of team and coaching staff.

Rohit Sharma w leads team following Virat Kohli's decision in 2021 to step down as captain. Rahul Dravid has replaced Ravi Shastri as head coach.

Under new captain and coach, India has played 35 T20s at home and away, with 26 wins and eight losses. It holds record for maximum wins in a calendar year, taking this form into World Cup.

India missed final of Asia Cup in United Arab Emirates but rallied for 2-1 T20 series wins at home against Australia and South Africa before top squad headed Down Under for global tournament.

“We can get caught up with what happens during T20 games in India. boundaries are shorter re. In Australia, boundaries are far bigger and give bowlers a bit of license to work with,” veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said during training camp in Perth.

STRENGTHS

Suryakumar Yadav has been one of T20 stars for India in recent months. He has scored 864 runs in 26 matches at strike-rate of 180 and is currently ranked . 2 in ICC’s Men’s T20 batting charts.

He has risen to be fulcrum of India’s lineup, and its hopes for a second T20 title will rely on Yadav staying in form.

India's batting depth is strong, with Rohit, Kohli and Lokesh Rahul making a formidable top-order, backed up by Yadav at . 4. Hardik Pandya and Dinesh Karthik are assigned finishers.

Rishabh Pant is both a back-up opener and wicketkeeper-batsman in squad. Despite mercurial performances on Australian soil in past, Pant is t expected to feature regularly in India’s first-choice XI.

SETBACKS

In a major blow to its title aspirations, India will be missing leading fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and allrounder Ravindra Jadeja because of long-term injuries, and Deepak Chahar was ruled out with a back injury earlier this week.

Bowling remains a concern for India in absence of Jadeja and Bumrah, who is a brilliant T20 bowler and excels particularly in late overs.

In his absence, young pacers Harshal Patel and Arshdeep Singh have struggled to come to terms with high-pressure job. Even experienced Bhuvneshwar Kumar struggled during recent Asia Cup and against Australia at home.

Axar Patel has come in as left-arm spinner in place of Jadeja, who also will be sorely missed in field.

India delayed confirming its 15th squad member, with fast bowlers Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur late arrivals in Australia.

Shami is widely expected to replace Bumrah, although he hasn’t played any T20 cricket since last World Cup and has only recently recovered from COVID-19.

India's squad for T20 World Cup

Rohit Sharma (captain), Lokesh Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, Deepak Hooda.