With a T20 World Cup appearing on the horizon, India have been the busiest of nations in the shortest form of the game. Series against Ireland, England and the West Indies have helped the team to find their touch ahead of the big event.
India have strength in depth but they also have a number of selection issues to address. Many players have been used in recent contests but certain positions in the team are still unclear. One specific question relates to the opening batting berth.
Skipper Rohit Sharma is certain to be involved in the World Cup but who will join him at the top of the order?
India Assessed
India are among the favourites to win cricket’s T20 World Cup in 2022. In fact, many of the best sports betting sites in India list Rohit Sharma’s men as joint favourites, alongside England and Australia, to lift the trophy later this year.
Other teams who are expected to make a challenge include South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan and the West Indies. The odds here are supplied by Asiabet and they have scope to adjust in the run up to the tournament.
After each T20 international, the market can change and any updates will be posted on the Asiabet website. While studying the figures, readers can also check in on news stories and opinion articles plus betting guides and a wide set of sportsbook reviews.
Anyone who wishes to put their knowledge to the test can sign up with any of the recommended panel of bookmakers. Each will be willing to accept new players in return for a quick and secure registration process.
Once the sign up has been confirmed, many operators will have a generous welcome promotion to make use of. Funds will be required to cover opening bets and there are many deposit methods that can help with this.
Once onboard, customers will also be able to look forward to a choice of other sporting markets while mobile betting and in-play options should also appear.
It’s the betting site to follow across this year’s World Cup but who will be leading India at the top of their batting order?
KL Rahul
There was a time when KL Rahul would have felt that he was certain to open the batting for India at this year’s World Cup. He had enjoyed a positive IPL with new franchise the Lucknow Super Giants but injury has allowed others to step in and take their chance.
Rahul’s statistics in T20 remain impressive and he’s made two international centuries in this format. Those tons form part of six overall T20 hundreds and India will need to seriously consider a player who can still make big individual contributions.
Shikhar Dhawan
Shikhar Dhawan is another experienced batter who has fallen out of favour with the selectors. He may still feature in the ODI team but he tends to get overlooked for the test and T20 squads.
Dhawan’s presence at the top of the order would give India a useful left hand / right hand opening combination. He’s made two T20 centuries and has a highest score for the national team in this format of 92.
Ishan Kishan
Wicket keeper / batter Ishan Kishan has been an important part of successful Mumbai Indians squads for many years. He’d built up a reputation in the IPL for powerful hitting but he hasn’t been the most consistent of run scorers.
That pattern of play has also been carried across to the international stage. Since making his T20 debut for India against England in 2021, Kishan has made four half centuries in his first 18 games with a top score of 89. His strike rate is healthy at 132.66 but his average is modest at a shade over 31.
Ishan Kishan will almost certainly travel with the squad to the World Cup but will he be the first choice opener?
Deepak Hooda
He was given his chance in the T20 series against Ireland and Deepak Hooda grasped that opportunity. He became only the fourth Indian to score a T20i century when he made 104 in Dublin on June 28th.
Hooda faces competition for a slot but he would be very unlucky to miss out after such a fabulous knock.
