Shastri talks up India XI with ‘all bases covered’

On Wednesday, India wrapped up their group stage with a dominant win over Netherlands, taking their winning streak at T20 World Cups to 12.

Former India coach Ravi Shastri believes the two-time champions, who have an embarrassment of riches in the line-up, may have found their best XI. He believes India will continue with the team that got the better of the Dutch when they begin the Super Eight phase against South Africa on Sunday, February 22.

“I think it will be pretty much the same side because you've got depth, you've got all bases covered, you've got options, you need options,” Shastri told The ICC Review.

“When there's dew around, you need that extra bowling option. Whether it's a Shivam Dube, whether it's Hardik (Pandya) bowling his full quota of overs, whether it's Tilak Varma who might roll his arm for an over or two, you need those options. I don't think they'll tinker with the side. I think the team that played in the last game was a good side.

“I think the positive (for India) is that in every game there's been someone who stood up. It has been Ishan Kishan, sometimes Surya (Suryakumar Yadav) in the first game. Tilak Varma has played his part. He's got off to starts but I still think the best of him is still to come. I look at it as a positive that Abhishek Sharma has got three zeros. So, save your best for the important periods in the tournament. Teams will be a little worried that he's not got runs.”

The only dilemma, Shastri believes, is whether to play Axar Patel or Washington Sundar. While it is not a like-for-like comparison – Patel is a left-arm spinner while Sundar is an off-break bowler – they are both more than handy with the bat. Sundar, who has been out of the team due to injury since the ODI series against New Zealand earlier in the year, was brought in for Patel against the Netherlands, giving him some much-needed game time before the tournament enters the business end.

In the Super Eight stage, India is in Group 1 along with Zimbabwe, West Indies and South Africa. Sunday’s clash between India and South Africa is a repeat of the 2024 final, where India scored a narrow seven-wicket win to claim their second championship.

“There's a lot of self-belief and you know it's going to be a cracking contest because South Africa are no pushovers, they'll compete for sure. And it's a repeat of the World Cup final of 2024, so everyone's looking forward to it,” Shastri said about the match against the Proteas.

Like India, South Africa are unbeaten in the tournament so far and will carry that confidence to the next stage.

“They've got depth in batting. India have got depth in batting. I think this is a cracking contest. This is two of the strongest teams, one would say, playing in this tournament, playing this game on the 22nd. Because you'd have to give them that credit because they were World Cup finalists last time around and they're playing to potential at the moment.”

Ahmedabad will play host to the marquee India v South Africa contest. While India played their final group game there, South Africa played three of their four group games, including the epic against Afghanistan and a comprehensive win over New Zealand, at the venue. They also played two evening matches – against New Zealand and Canada – at the Narendra Modi Stadium and will have a measure of the conditions.

“100 per cent. When you're familiar with the ground, you're familiar with the angles, you know which will be the long boundary, which would be the shorter side,” he said.

“So, you know what lengths to bowl and they will come well prepared, as would India. The thing to see is the amount of dew. See, dew can make a lot of difference. Toss can play a crucial role in games like this.”

As the home team, it may be advantage India, but South Africa will be keen on turning the tables.

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