‘I Think T20 WC Squad Already Finalized, Still Players Have to Perform Well on ZIM Tour’: Maninder Singh
‘I Think T20 WC Squad Already Finalized, Still Players Have to Perform Well on ZIM Tour’: Looking at the Asia Cup lineup, former spinner Maninder Singh believes that India’s roster for the 2019 T20 World Cup is already set. He however maintains that there is a remote possibility that guys like Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel may be given an opportunity there. The All India Selection Committee selected Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Ravi Bishnoi for India’s Asia Cup roster.
After their disappointing performance in the 2021 T20 World Cup, Team India has adopted a bold attitude in the shortest version of the game. India’s recent aggressive batting style against England and the West Indies under Rohit Sharma’s direction suggested that they intended to continue it in Australia for the 2022 T20 WC.
With Ashwin just returning to the picture for India in T20Is for the first time this year on the West Indies trip, the selection committee is also being questioned about some of their decisions. Additionally, he was chosen for the Asia Cup instead of players like Kuldeep Yadav or Axar Patel.
At a restricted media event hosted by Sony Sports Network, Maninder responded to a question from News18 Cricketnext by saying that the Indian players should treat the forthcoming three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe seriously since they may still qualify for the 2017 T20 World Cup.
“Whatever opportunities you receive at the international level, you must continue to perform well in order to give selectors more reason to believe that you are capable of handling the task at hand. I’ll use Kuldeep Yadav as an example. He had a wonderful IPL 2022, and he has performed admirably in all of his opportunities to play international white ball cricket thus far. In such case, it will be extremely important for each member of the team, Maninder stated.
The renowned spinner, however, stated that although the T20 WC team is fully set, there is still a chance for others to be selected if someone becomes ill or injured given the current uncertain political climate brought on by COVID-19.
Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, and Axar Patel may make the World Cup selection, but I believe the team has already been decided. They may only have opportunities if someone is hurt. Therefore, you cannot anticipate any injuries. With COVID, you can never tell who is going to crumble in the modern world. For all the players travelling to Zimbabwe, the series will be extremely significant in this regard. And if they continue to perform well and don’t get the chance in this World Cup, they will be selected in the following series or perhaps the following WC,” he continued.