This is more or less the same Indian team that moved like a Ferrari at the 2023 World Cup until they stumbled at the finish line. The team management’s obsession with the Ahmedabad pitch, the way it was tended to before the big game, probably contributed to India losing that fateful final against Australia. The ‘more or less’ is the operative phrase here, for India would be without their bowling royalty in the Champions Trophy. A marauding Indian team sans Jasprit Bumrah is sort of akin to Bradman’s Invincibles without the Don himself. India cannot replace the irreplaceable. They will have to make do. Can an unproven pace attack rise to the challenge?
Yes, Mohammed Shami is there. But back to the international fold after a long injury lay-off, the veteran seamer is yet to regain the cutting edge that made him nigh-on unplayable at the 2023 World Cup. Mind, Shami now has a lot of overs under his belt after returning to competitive cricket in November last year. He played for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy before being picked for the Indian team. On song, he is a world-class operator. But he needs to regain his mojo.
Around Shami, there are two callow fast bowlers. Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana have played just 11 ODIs between them. “People like Harsh (Rana), Arsh (Arshdeep), Mohammed Shami – all these guys will put their hands up,” Gautam Gambhir blustered at the post-match press conference in Ahmedabad, after India clean-swept England in the ODI series. “It’s a great opportunity for them to try and deliver for the country.”
Easier said than done. The Indian pace attack in the Champions Trophy has to be greater than the sum of its parts.
The selectors and the team management obviously were a bit iffy about how the pace pack will perform. Else, why will they heavily load the squad with spin-bowling all-rounders? In fact, an extra spinner was brought in at the eleventh hour - Varun Chakravarthy replacing Yashasvi Jaiswal in the final squad. The pitch at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium might offer turn, but there's a nip in the mid-February air and it feels like India are one fast bowler short.
This makes Hardik Pandya’s role hugely important. He will bat No. 6 and will be the team’s third seamer. A lot will depend on how he performs in the role of a genuine all-rounder. Pandya broke down mid-way into the 2023 World Cup. For India to go the distance in the Champions Trophy, he needs to stay fit.
With regards to batting, Shubman Gill was in excellent form in the ODI series against England and he looked to be in sublime touch at the nets, as India began their preparations in earnest in Dubai. Shreyas Iyer, too, is looking very good. But from India’s point of view, it would be imperative that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are in top fettle. They are the galacticos, who still control the tempo of the team's batting in 50-over cricket.
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