"Only Thing That Concerns Me...": Sanjay Manjrekar On The Need Of "X-Factor" In India's T20 World Cup Squad

A tried and tested Indian squad has been named for the T20 World Cup 2022. The squad bore a striking resemblance to the one that played in the recently-concluded Asia Cup, barring the exception of Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel - both of whom made a return to the squad after recuperating from injuries. In the spin department, India has gone ahead with three specialists - Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal and Axar Patel. Former Indian cricket team player Sanjay Manjrekar gave his take on the spin troika.

Manjrekar pointed out that veteran spinner Yuzvendra Chahal looked a little tired, adding that with the spin line-up that India have got he "doesn't see drama happening in the middle overs."

"Too many matches. He's somebody that comes good if you see him, how he made a comeback after being dropped for a while. Come Australia, when he's had a little bit of break, he'll be fine," Manjrekar said on Sports 18. "But I've always wanted the X factor in the spin department and that's the only thing that concerns me about the squad that has been announced for Australia. Axar, Ashwin and Chahal. The three spinners. I don't see drama happening in the middle overs which you need to win T20 games."

India start their T20 World Cup campaign against Pakistan on October 23 in Melbourne.

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India squad for ICC T20 World Cup: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya, R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh.

Standby players - Mohd. Shami, Shreyas Iyer, Ravi Bishnoi, Deepak Chahar.