Other than generating copious amounts of revenue year after year, the IPL has also been a breeding ground for young talent in India and no one is a greater testimony of the fact than Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. After having started as a young rookie with a different action under the Mumbai Indians not so long ago, Jasprit Bumrah has taken giant strides to become the Indian bowling ace within a very short period of time.
However, scheduling an intense hard-fought tournament like IPL within close proximity to the World Cup implies risking injuries to key players and subsequent loss at the world’s most important cricket event. Nevertheless, if the recent BCCI releases are anything to go by, the IPL is going nowhere and the BCCI is well on its way to get started with its 12th edition.
Looking at the positive side of things though, the IPL could very well turn out to a blessing in disguise and might actually help India rectify a few chinks in its armour going into the World Cup. It is no secret that the Indian team led by Virat Kohli along with the World Cup hosts, England, would start as favourites lift the World Cup at Lords and while India does boast of a strong side, there are definitely a few areas that the men in blue would like to address.
Here’s a look at how the IPL 2019 is the ideal opportunity for India to prepare itself for the quest to win the World Cup in 2015. Let us have a look at 5 key points on how the 12th edition of the IPL can help India win the World Cup this year.
#1 The Number 4 puzzle
India have traditionally been blessed with batting riches. Everytime a legend retires, they have somehow found someone to fill in the big shoes. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan walking out to open the innings may not yet have the same aura as a Tendulkar- Ganguly or Tendulkar- Sehwag pair used to have but invariably, they are definitely the best in the world at the moment.
Going by current form, they could soon be placed at comparable pedestals with the above-mentioned legends. Virat Kohli, coming in at number 3, is undoubtedly the best batsman in the world at the moment. But that is where it ends. Number 4 has been a perennial struggle for India in the last 7-8 years. Yuvraj Singh remains the last dependable and successful batsman at that position for India over a sustained period.
Since 2011, once Yuvraj was out of the team owing to cancer, India have tried different options including the likes of Ajinkya Rahane, Manish Pandey, KL Rahul etc at the spot. But all of them failed to nail down that position in their name. Of late, Ambati Rayudu has made a strong claim to the position courtesy of some good performances in the Asia Cup.
With the flamboyant top 3 that India have, the number 4 position becomes especially tricky. On most occasions, they might be in situations requiring them to fire from the word go. They could also have to drop anchor and steer the team in case of a dramatic top-order collapse. Last IPL saw Rayudu going up and down the CSK batting ranks and performing well on most occasions. As such If Rayudu can continue being the floater that he was at CSK last year and deliver some consistent performances, it would be a huge boost for India going ahead.
#2 Dhoni’s batting form
Dhoni’s batting form is something that everyone is aware of but nobody wants to talk about. Every time the subject of his batting prowess and form comes up, people conveniently switch to the need for experience and match awareness in the side, lightning fast stumpings, and assistance to spin bowlers. The fact that batting stats are not the immediate counter to the argument is the very reason that has got all of us secretly worried. Dhoni’s finishing prowess is definitely on the wane and we are too close to the cup to seek a replacement for the colossal figure that MSD is.
Probably a younger Dhoni as Indian skipper would have sought the dropping of his own current version from the team but then Kohli is not MSD and therefore its a certainty that MSD will play the World Cup. As such, its is imperative that he recovers his touch and finds some lost form.
And what better opportunity for the CSK ’thalaiva’ to do it than in his favorite yellow jersey. He showed glimpses of his prime years last year in the IPL. If he can go one step ahead this year, then it should serve as an alarm to teams across the world. Also with the assurance of an inform MSD waiting in the wings, the Indian top 3 can be twice as dangerous and effective up-top.
#3 The 3rd seamer
Who is India’s 3rd seamer to partner Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar? This has been another perennial question that India has been seeking answers to. Starting from Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur to Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav, India have tried plenty of options.
But, just like the notorious number 4 spot, no individual has been able to cement his position. Unlike the number 4 position though, the 3rd seamer is more about inclusion of variety rather than being a go-to necessity. In the past, India has gone in with the combination of 2 pacers and 2 leg spinners along with Hardik Pandya and Kedar Jadhav to finish off the quota of 50 overs, and it worked with decent success as well.
Nevertheless, it is a position that captain Kohli has been endorsing quite often of late. Khaleel Ahmed delivered some impressive performances in the Asia cup and followed it up in the series against the Windies. Shami also seems to be regaining his lost touch. With key pacers including Bumrah and Bhuvi more than likely to be rested rested, this IPL could well turn out to be an audition of sorts for the position of the 3rd seamer in the Indian ODI team.
#4 Who is Kuldeep Yadav’s spin twin?
Post the Champions Trophy in 2017, which India lost to Pakistan in the finals, India delivered the wrist spinner memo to all nations that they played against. And they did that with a telling impact. They ran through batting line-ups they played against, deceiving and outfoxing batsmen with their guile and skills and in the process, gifted India with series wins against Australia, South Africa, and other nations.
But in the Asia Cup this year, with India’s brittle middle order in mind amplified by the injury to Hardik Pandya, the team management felt the need for someone who could wield the bat and in Ravindra Jadeja, they found the ideal match. Unfortunately, while Chahal complemented Kuldeep excellently, it is Jadeja’s all-round skills which are making the Indian team management choose him over Chahal.
This IPL could turn out to be the the battle ground for supremacy in the pecking order between these two to be the pair to Kuldeep Yadav in the starting 11.
#5 The All-rounder
Who is India’s all-rounder? Is it Hardik Pandya, is it Kedar Jadhav, is it Ravindra Jadeja, or is it not one but a combination among these options. Going by past performances, Kedar Jadhav with Pandya has been Kohli’s preferred combination.
But given the brittleness of the Indian middle order, especially in the event of Rayudu and Dhoni not being able to find their form, then India will be forced to field 5 proper bowlers to try and give themselves enough options to restrict the opposition to fair totals on the flat wickets in England.
But we can never rule out the possibility of Jadeja making a grand comeback or even the possibility of someone like a Krunal Pandya breaking into the scenes. The all-rounder conundrum is a critical one that India would want to resolve and this IPL could be the best opportunity to settle the debate.
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