Five Major Concerns For Team India Heading Into The T20 World Cup

Rohit Sharma-led Team India might have won the T20I series against Australia and South Africa on home soil, however, there are some big concerns as the team gears up to take part in the T20 World Cup in Australia. If the side wants to win the marquee event, all three departments of the game need to work in unison, which has not happened for Rohit Sharma and co off late. Death bowling has emerged as one of the biggest concerns for the side, and with Jasprit Bumrah being ruled out of the tournament, one does not know how the side can fix the problem that is quickly turning out to be their achilles' heel.

There is no like-for-like replacement for Hardik Pandya in the squad, and if the premier all-rounder gets injured midway during the tournament, the balance of the side will go haywire and the management will be left with a severe headache.

1. Jasprit Bumrah's replacement

Team India were given a major jolt on Monday as Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of the T20 World Cup due to an injury. No replacement has been named so far. Mohammed Shami and Deepak Chahar are in the standbys, but both of them have not played the shortest format for that long this year. Chahar might have played the T20I series against South Africa and he showed great form as well but are three games enough? On the other hand, Shami has not played a single T20I for India this year. He was in the squad for the series against Australia and South Africa, but he was eventually ruled out after testing positive for COVID-19. Mohammed Siraj is also someone who can be looked at, but he has a knack of leaking runs at the death.

2. Death bowling

Asia Cup, series against Australia and South Africa saw the Indian bowlers leaking runs at the death. No bowler has been able