Top ranked India bank on big guns to out-muscle competition for home glory
Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav.
Winner(1983, 2011)
India were shock winners in the 1983 World Cup, beating the mighty West Indies, who were on course for a hat-trick of title wins, in the final of the tournament.
In 2011, under MS Dhoni, India went on to win their first Cricket World Cup at home in a thrilling final against Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
In one of the greatest finishes recorded in the World Cup's history, India scripted a title win they would be hoping to replicate this time around.
2011 CWC | MS Dhoni's match-winning six in the final against Sri Lanka
(Most recent first): L W W W L W W W NR W
vs Australia (8 October), Chennai
vs Afghanistan (11 October), Delhi
vs Pakistan (14 October), Ahmedabad
vs Bangladesh (19 October), Pune
vs New Zealand (22 October), Dharamsala
vs England (29 October), Lucknow
vs Sri Lanka (2 November), Mumbai
vs South Africa (5 November), Kolkata
vs Netherlands (12 November), Bengaluru
vs Pakistan (14 October)
India boast a 7-0 record in Cricket World Cups against Pakistan, and being favourites to win at home in this tournament, the hosts will be backing themselves to add to that record. However, not all is as easy as it seems against a mercurial Pakistan pace attack as India have found out more than once recently.
Despite the injury to Naseem Shah, Pakistan have a pompous array of quicks that can turn up and decimate teams on their day. The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad will host this much-awaited fixture and will be just the second match at this venue in this tournament.
Chase master Virat Kohli stuns Pakistan as India win thriller | Match Highlights | T20WC 2022
Match highlights of India snatching an ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022 thriller from Pakistan after a masterclass from Virat Kohli propelled them toward a stunning victory off the final ball.
A fresh wicket would definitely put Pakistan's quicks in play, but India have the batting quality to counter that while also possessing a strong group of fast bowlers themselves. The two teams have jostled for the top spot in the MRF Tyres ICC Men's Team Rankings in the weeks leading up to the World Cup and all of that lends an extra bit of spice to this already flavoursome battle.
India will have the edge having beaten Pakistan recently in the Asia Cup, and going on to win the title in emphatic fashion before taking the top rankings spot with a series victory over Australia. Pakistan finished fourth behind the other Asian giants in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup, but with the likes of Haris Rauf poised to return from injury, they will be no pushovers, especially if the new ball bowlers can make a few early inroads.
Jasprit Bumrah
Back from injury, Jasprit Bumrah took little time to show what his presence does to India's bowling attack as a whole. In his first over after a year, Bumrah sent back two Ireland batters in a T20I in Dublin and walked away with the Player of the Match award.
Bumrah's absence profoundly affected India's bowling attack at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup last year in Australia and keeping the pacer fit and fresh for the big games would be of utmost priority to the hosts.
The benefits of that were seen during the last Cricket World Cup in England in 2019 when Bumrah snared 18 wickets in nine matches at an average of 20.61.
CWC19: How Jasprit Bumrah became one of the most feared fast bowlers in the world
His recent spell against Pakistan's top-order in the Asia Cup was just another example of how he could turn contests in a matter of a few balls. While he only has eight wickets in six ODIs since his return, Bumrah's ability to work over batters hugely benefits the bowlers from the other end too, an often underappreciated facet in a bowler's limited-overs career.
While India possess a strong batting line-up, two brilliant limited-overs all-rounders and a strong spin attack, Bumrah gives this squad the real edge it needs to go all the way in a tournament like this.
India have everything going their way in the lead up to the World Cup with multiple checkboxes ticked. A palatable group of batters, with a perfect concoction of experience and brashness, makes them one of the strongest batting line-ups in the competition.
Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill form one of the best opening pairs in the format in world cricket today and are followed by a quality middle-order that has Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul and all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja. Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan too adorn this world-class batting unit.
The bowling group has produced otherworldly performances in recent times and there's a good blend of every bowling type up their sleeve as they go in pursuit of a home title. Led by Bumrah, the pace attack has Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami and Shardul Thakur.
The one facet of India's World Cup that will be interesting to watch out for is how they choose to line-up — go heavy on batting or back their best group of bowlers at the expense of batting depth. With several of their bowlers not classified among the greatest tailenders going around, India will ponder if they should go with extra batting depth even if it comes at a cost.
This tricky balance could make or break India's tournament and a horses-for-courses approach in terms of how they form the XI could be the key to unlocking the title win. They could choose to go with Thakur or Ravichandran Ashwin at No.8 based on conditions or go all out with their three best seamers, who also form their best Test pace attack, and in-form spinner Kuldeep Yadav on batting tracks where batting depth might not be as significant.
Will Rahul Dravid and Co. nail down the right template for the XI? With more than enough options to choose from a problem of plenty across departments, getting their playing XI formula spot on would be India's biggest concern.