T20 World Cup 2024: Will India break safety-first shackles ahead of Super Eights?

Few Indian cricket-watchers are getting carried away just yet. Over the past decade, India have made a habit of delivering strong performances in the group stages of tournaments, before coming a cropper in the matches that matter. The last T20 World Cup was no different. India were the only team to win four games [out of five] in the main round, but they were then routed in the semi-final, with England chasing down a target of 169 in a mere 16 overs.

On a pitch where India had tuk-tuked their way to 38-1 in the Powerplay, England smashed 63 in their first six overs. Alex Hales alone hit as many sixes (7) as the entire Indian team. The analog-and-outdated India and digital England comparisons were almost too easy to make. After that debacle, Indian cricket engaged in a short spell of navel-gazing. There were vague promises of change, and for a year, a squad comprising fresher faces stitched together some good results.

But when it came to World Cup selection, it was once again new bottle and old wine. Old, as in stale, and not vintage. Most former players are afraid to say anything for fear of damaging their employment prospects, but several have made pointed remarks about India’s safety-first approach.

Kuldeep Yadav, a proven wicket-taker who took 5-17 in South Africa in his penultimate T20 international, continues to be on the bench. He also took six wickets in four matches across the Caribbean and Florida last year, while not conceding more than seven runs an over in any innings. Neither Ravindra Jadeja nor Axar Patel come close to matching his bowling average or strike-rate, but both are played, ostensibly to strengthen the batting.