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54 Contenders for the Indian 2022 T20 World Cup Squad — Do Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli Deserve a Spot?

Apr 22, 2022 | Article Index, India, Miscellaneous, T20 World Cup

Indian 2022 T20 World Cup Squad – The Fast Bowlers

What is India’s Best T20 Fast Bowling Combination?

India’s best T20 Powerplay bowlers are Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, and Mohammd Siraj.
India’s best T20 death bowlers are Jasprit Bumrah, Harshal Patel, T Natarajan, Mohammad Shami, and Arshdeep Singh
The next generation of 140 kmh+ fast bowlers in India include Prasidh Krishna, Khaleel Ahmed, Umran Malik, Avesh Khan, Chetan Sakariya, and Navdeep Saini. Kartik Tyagi, Shivam Mavi, Kamleseh Nagarkoti, Ishan Porel, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Kuldeep Sen, Mukesh Choudhary, Vaibhav Arora, and Basil Thampi are some of the other options in the Indian circuit right now.

Who Is India’s Best Powerplay Bowler? (Pick 1-2)

39. Shardul Thakur 🟨

Current Status: Incumbent Style: Right Arm Medium Pacer

  • T20Is: 25, Wickets: 33, Best: 4/27, Economy: 9.15, Runs: 69, Best: 22*, SR: 181.57
  • T20s: 131, Wickets: 151, Best: 4/27, Economy: 8.61, Runs: 253, Best: 29*, SR: 127.77
  • Last Played T20Is for India: February 20, 2022
  • IPL (since 2020): 32 matches, Wickets: 35, Best: 3/28, Economy: 8.88

Pros ✅: Makes Things Happen; Effective batter if needed

Cons ❌: High Economy Rate

How Is He Doing in IPL 2022?

With the ball, only 4 wickets at an economy of 9.60 does not hold well, but it his ability to get crucial wickets and hit a couple of lusty blows might keep him in contention for the Indian 2022 T20 World Cup Squad.

40. Deepak Chahar 🟨

Current Status: Incumbent Style: Right Arm Medium Pacer

  • T20Is: 20, Wickets: 26, Best: 6/7, Economy: 8.27, Runs: 22, Best: 21*, SR: 244.44
  • T20s: 118, Wickets: 134, Best: 6/7, Economy: 7.65, Runs: 287, Best: 55*, SR: 129.86
  • Last Played T20Is for India: February 20, 2022
  • IPL (since 2020): 29, Wickets: 26, Best: 4/13, Economy: 7.99

Pros ✅: Wickets in Powerplay; Improved Death overs bowler; Can hit sixes down the order

Cons ❌: Injury (out for at least 3 months)

How Is He Doing in IPL 2022?

Injured and out of the IPL. Running against time for the T20 World Cup squad. If fit, he slots right in.

41. Bhuvneshwar Kumar 🟩

Current Status: Incumbent Style: Right Arm Medium Pacer

  • T20Is: 59, Wickets: 58, Best: 5/24, Economy: 6.99
  • T20s: 213, Wickets: 220, Best: 5/19, Economy: 7.18
  • Last Played T20Is for India: February 26, 2022
  • IPL (since 2020): 21, Wickets: 17, Best: 3/22, Economy: 7.73

Pros ✅: Experience; Back In-form; Yorkers at Death

Cons ❌: Been in-and-out in the lats couple of years due to injury and loss of form

How Is He Doing in IPL 2022?

8 wickets at 7.75 with best of 3/22. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is slowly coming back to his best in T20 cricket after a couple of below par years.

42. Umesh Yadav 🟪

Current Status: Out of Squad Style: Right Arm Fast

  • T20Is: 7, Wickets: 9, Best: 2/19, Economy: 8.76
  • T20s: 158, Wickets: 160, Best: 5/18, Economy: 8.23, SR: 128.06
  • Last Played T20Is for India: February 24, 2019
  • IPL (since 2020): 9, Wickets: 10, Best: 4/23, Economy: 8.28

Pros ✅: In-Form; Wicket-Taker in Powerplay

Cons ❌: High Economy outside of Powerplay

How Is He Doing in IPL 2022?

In the top 10 wicket taker for now and briefly held the purple cap. 10 wickets with the best of 4/23 at 7.39 economy is pretty stellar stats. Now has 51 wickets in the Powerplay in all IPLs. (only behind Bhuvneshawar Kumar, Zaheer Khan, and Sandeep Sharma). Enjoying a second wind in his T20 career.

43. Mohammad Siraj 🟪

Current Status: Out of Squad Style: Right Arm Fast

  • T20Is: 5, Wickets: 5, Best: 1/22, Economy: 10.45
  • T20s: 94, Wickets: 114, Best: 4/20, Economy: 8.23
  • Last Played T20Is for India: February 27, 2022
  • IPL (since 2020): 31, Wickets: 28, Best: 3/8, Economy: 8.08

Pros ✅: Can get on a roll on his day

Cons ❌: High Economy Rate; Out of Form

How Is He Doing in IPL 2022?

Getting the wickets, but not looking at his best yet. 6 wickets with best of 2/31 at 9.89 economy.

Future Indian Prospect: Mukesh Choudhary, Vaibhav Arora

Who are India’s Best Specialist Death Bowlers? (Pick 1-2)

44. Jasprit Bumrah 🟩

Current Status: Out of Squad Style: Right Arm Fast

  • T20Is: 57, Wickets: 67, Best: 3/11, Economy: 6.50
  • T20s: 200, Wickets: 242, Best: 4/14, Economy: 7.02
  • Last Played T20Is for India: February 26, 2022
  • IPL (since 2020): 36, Wickets: 52, Best: 4/14, Economy: 7.16

Pros ✅: India’s main wicket taker; Unorthodox bowling action; Yorker specialist

Cons ❌: Wicketless in 5/7 IPL games this season

How Is He Doing in IPL 2022?

It has been that kind of season for Mumbai Indians and Bumrah’s lean phase has exposed more problems in the MI setup. Best of 3/17 and overall economy of 7.51 look good, but he has only taken 1 wicket in the other six innings. A bowling average of 49.60 & strike rate of 39.5 shows that he has not had as great of an impact in IPL 2022. Still India’s number one bowler.

45. Harshal Patel 🟨

Current Status: Out of Squad Style: Right Arm Medium

  • T20Is: 8, Wickets: 11, Best: 3/22, Economy: 8.51
  • T20s: 130, Wickets: 157, Best: 5/27, Economy: 7.96
  • Last Played T20Is for India: February 27, 2022
  • IPL (since 2020): 26, Wickets: 43, Best: 5/27, Economy: 8.05

Pros ✅: Death over specialist; Variation of slower deliveries

Cons ❌: International Inexperience

How Is He Doing in IPL 2022?

Joint highest wicket-taker and purple cap holder in IPL 2021, Harshal Patel has continued his death bowling magic in IPL 2022. 8 wickets at 7.29 economy with best of 2/11. Missed a match due to personal tragedy.

46. Thangarasu Natarajan 🟨

Current Status: Out of Squad Style: Left Arm Fast

  • T20Is: 4, Wickets: 7, Best: 3/30, Economy: 7.62
  • T20s: 55, Wickets: 62, Best: 3/4, Economy: 7.96
  • Last Played T20Is for India: March 20, 2021
  • IPL (since 2020): 24, Wickets: 30, Best: 3/37, Economy: 8.23

Pros ✅: Yorker Specialist; Left Arm Pacer

Cons ❌: Coming back from injuries

How Is He Doing in IPL 2022?

One of the key’s to SRH’s resurgence along with Bhuvi and Umran Malik. 12 wickets in 6 matches already with the best of 3/37 and economy of 8.66. If he maintains his fitness, a left arm death bowler could be a dark horse pick for the Indian 2022 T20 World Cup squad.

47. Arshdeep Singh 🟧

Current Status: Out of Squad Style: Left Arm Medium

  • T20s: 42, Wickets: 44, Best: 5/32, Economy: 26.52
  • IPL (since 2020): 27, Wickets: 29, Best: 5/32, Economy: 8.44

Pros ✅: Composed under pressure; Wide Yorker/18th over specialist

Cons ❌: Inexperience

How Is He Doing in IPL 2022?

Has not been among the wickets – only 2 wickets in 7 matches but has been impactful at the death nevertheless. In the last 4 overs this season, he has only conceded 21 runs in 24 balls with 9 dots and 11 singles. Only 1 four and 0 sixes conceded during this time.

48. Mohammad Shami 🟨

Current Status: Out of Squad Style: Right Arm Fast

  • T20Is: 17, Wickets: 18, Best: 3/15, Economy: 9.54
  • T20s: 123, Wickets: 144, Best: 4/24, Economy: 8.28
  • Last Played T20Is for India: November 8, 2021
  • IPL (since 2020): 34, Wickets: 47, Best: 3/15, Economy: 7.95

Pros ✅: Reverse Swing; Yorkers

Cons ❌: High T20 Economy Rate

How Is He Doing in IPL 2022?

8 wickets at 7.58 with 22.75 average. Pretty good returns so far.

Who Will Be the Surprise Bowling India’s X-Factor? (Pick 1)

49. Khaleel Ahmed 🟪

Current Status: Out of Squad Style: Left Arm Fast

  • T20Is: 14, Wickets: 13, Best: 2/27, Economy: 8.82
  • T20s: 74, Wickets: 97, Best: 5/18, Economy: 8.05
  • Last Played T20Is for India: November 10, 2019
  • IPL (since 2020): 20 matches, Wickets: 24, Best: 3/21, Economy: 8.49

Pros ✅: In-form; Taking wickets in the middle overs

Cons ❌: Out of national setup for a while

How Is He Doing in IPL 2022?

11 wickets at 7.90 with best of 3/25, Khaleel has made sure DC has not felt the absence of Anrich Nortje. As a left-handed fast bowler with Indian experience, he may be a dark horse pick.

50. Prasidh Krishna 🟨

Current Status: Out of Squad Style: Right Arm Fast

  • T20s: 60, Wickets: 53, Best: 4/30, Economy: 8.66
  • IPL (since 2020): 23 matches, Wickets: 24, Best: 3/22, Economy: 8.84

Pros ✅: Fast; Tall; Wicket-Taker

Cons ❌: Has not yet made T20I debut

How Is He Doing in IPL 2022?

In a chase of 222, DC needed 36 runs in 12 balls. Prasidh Krishna delivered a wicket maiden. 3/22 in 4 overs. Economy of 8.14 is a bit on the higher side, but Krishna has been one of the most improved bowlers over the last couple of IPLs.

51. Avesh Khan 🟪

Current Status: Incumbent Style: Right Arm Fast

  • T20Is: 2, Wickets: 2, Best: 2/23, Economy: 8.12
  • T20s: 57, Wickets: 78, Best: 5/17, Economy: 7.85
  • Last Played T20Is for India: February 27, 2022
  • IPL (since 2020): 24, Wickets: 35, Best: 4/24 Economy: 7.77

Pros ✅: X-factor; Can take wickets in different phases

Cons ❌: Inexperience

How Is He Doing in IPL 2022?

Avesh Khan was one of the keys to DC’s success in the last couple of seasons, and he has continued his form with LSG in this tournament. 11 wickets with a best of 4/24 at 8.28 economy rate.

52. Chetan Sakariya 🟧

Current Status: Out of Squad Style: Left Arm Medium

  • T20Is: 2, Wickets:, 1 Best: 1/34, Economy: 9.27
  • T20s: 38, Wickets: 51, Best: 5/11, Economy: 7.56
  • Last Played T20Is for India: July 29, 2021
  • IPL (since 2020):14 , Wickets: 14, Best: 3/31, Economy: 8.19

Pros ✅: Left Arm Pacer

Cons ❌: On sidelines in IPL 2022 due to team composition; Inexperience

How Is He Doing in IPL 2022?

He is on the sidelines unfortunately…After his breakthrough IPL with RR last season that led to his India T20I cap, we have not seen him this year so far.

53. Umran Malik 🟨

Current Status: Out of Squad Style: Right Arm Super Fast

  • T20s: 14, Wickets: 20, Best: 4/22, Economy: 8.77
  • IPL (since 2020): 9, Wickets: 11, Best: 4/28, Economy: 8.73

Pros ✅: X-factor; Fast bowler of IPL 2022 so far

Cons ❌: Yet to debut in internationals; High Economy Rate

How Is He Doing in IPL 2022?

A revelation. At an economy of 9.13 this season, the numbers might not look up to the mark but his impact has been palpable. THAT OVER to Russell and 4-wicket 20th over even surprised Dale Steyn from the dugout. 153 kph+ is FAST!

54. Navdeep Saini 🟧

Current Status: Out of Squad Style: Right Arm Fast

  • T20Is: 11, Wickets: 13, Best: 3/17 Economy: 7.15
  • T20s: 68, Wickets: 56, Best: 3/17, Economy: 7.46
  • Last Played T20Is for India: July 28, 2021
  • IPL (since 2020): 17, Wickets: 9, Best: 2/25, Economy: 9.03

Pros ✅: Fast; Tall

Cons ❌: Inconsistent

How Is He Doing in IPL 2022?

Has only bowled 6 overs and taken 3 wickets this season at an economy of 12.00. Has all the raw ingredients and the talent, but I reckon his best is yet to come.

Future Prospects: Kartik Tyagi, Shivam Mavi, Ishan Porel, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Kuldeep Sen, Basil Thampi

Indian 2022 T20 World Cup Squad Prediction

Here are my predicted 15 that will travel to Australia later this year (If we can choose 3 more for COVID cover like the 2021 T20 World Cup, Shreyas Iyer, Shardul Thakur, and Rahul Chahar would be my fringe picks).

  1. Rohit Sharma (C)/Prithvi Shaw
  2. KL Rahul
  3. Virat Kohli
  4. Suryakumar Yadav/Rishabh Pant
  5. Hardik Pandya
  6. Ravindra Jadeja
  7. Dinesh Karthik (WK)
  8. Bhuvneshwar Kumar*
  9. Yuzvendra Chahal/Kuldeep Yadav
  10. Jasprit Bumrah/Harshal Patel
  11. Umran Malik

*If Deepak Chahar is fit, he should be first choice but Bhuvneshwar Kumar is coming back to his best while Chahar is sidelined for at least 3 months due to injury

Alternate Squad That Can Win India The World Cup

For each player above, there are ready replacements in case of injuries or loss of form.

The great thing about role-by-role selection is if you pick any combination of players from each category, India will still be able to put a really good squad by the virtue of their bench strength.

  1. Shikhar Dhawan/Ishan Kishan (WK)
  2. Shubhman Gill
  3. Shreyas Iyer (C)
  4. Sanju Samson (WK)
  5. Shivam Dube/Venkatesh Iyer
  6. Axar Patel
  7. Deepak Hooda
  8. Shardul Thakur
  9. Ravichandran Ashwin/Rahul Chahar
  10. T Natarajan
  11. Prasidh Krishna

How Many T20I Matches Do India Have Before the 2022 T20 Cricket World Cup?

India T20I Fixtures List

India have already played 9 T20Is post the 2021 T20 World Cup. Team India is scheduled to play at least 10 matches plus the Asia Cup (if it happens).

Do not be surprised if completely separate teams are sent to some of these tours.

Indian Cricket Team Bench Strength

Whatever happens, the Indian selectors have a tough job on their hands. It is worth noting though that this is a precious time in Indian cricket.

With 54 players fighting for the Top 15 in the Indian 2022 T20 World Cup Squad and about 27 future prospects, India’s T20 bench strength is enormous. Add to that, the Test specialists (Pujara, Rahane now, Ishant Sharma, Hanuma Vihari, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shahbaz Nadeem, Priyank Panchal, Jayant Yadav) and upcoming U-19 talent, India have close to 90-100 international level cricketers.

What do you think about India’s bench strength? What is your Indian 2022 T20 World Cup squad? Comment below and share your results on social media or with your friends and family!

© Copyright @Nitesh Mathur and Broken Cricket Dreams, 2022. Originally published on 04/21/2022. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Broken Cricket Dreams with appropriate and specific direction to the original content (i.e. linked to the exact post/article).

Nitesh Mathur

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