Kapil Dev is regarded as one of the game’s greatest all-rounders. He smashed more than 5000 runs and picked 434 wickets in Test cricket. Dev captained India to a famous World Cup win in 1983. Indian fans and the team has desperately sought an all-rounder of his class ever since he exited the scene. There have been players who have tried staking a claim to that tag. But none of them could ever nail down that spot permanently. Allrounders Spot In The Indian Team.
With the T20 World Cup looming and the next season of the WTC cycle to commence soon, India will surely want a few allrounders in their ranks.
StumpsandBails lists 9 allrounder options for India:
Contenders For The Allrounders Spot In The Indian Team
#9 Axar Patel
Allrounders Spot In The Indian Team. Axar Patel made his ODI debut in 2014 and soon made his T20I debut in 2015. He has been around the Indian team for quite some time now. But Patel could never really cement his spot in the white-ball team. He has strictly average numbers in both formats. But he made a sensational Test debut this year picking 27 wickets in 3 Tests. He even scored a handy 43 in the 4th Test against England. Patel has been a vital cog for Delhi Capitals. He is down in the pecking order but he is an all-round option for sure.
#8 Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Bhuvneshwar Kumar is one of India’s standout white-ball bowlers. Kumar’s incision with the new ball and his precision at the death makes him world-class. He will be expected to frontline the pace attack in the T20 World Cup. His bowling has not been up to the mark post the England series. Kumar’s form is surely a concern. He showed great grit while batting in the 2nd ODI against Sri Lanka. He is a key contributor with the bat as well and India will count on him to deliver at number 8 or 9.
#7 Krunal Pandya
Krunal Pandya is a street smart cricketer. He is aware of his limited abilities and he always looks to optimally use them. Pandya holds the record of scoring the fastest half-century on an ODI debut. His wicket-to-wicket bowling is similar to Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja. Hence Pandya might find it difficult to make a space for himself in the team consistently.
#6 Deepak Chahar
Deepak Chahar won a million hearts with his brilliant performance in the 2nd ODI against Sri Lanka. Chahar is no mug with the bat and he amply proved this fact. He along with Bhuvneshwar Kumar are two of India’s finest swing bowlers currently. India will be counting on Chahar to make the new ball talk in the T20 World Cup. His hitting ability will be worth its weight in gold heading into the World Cup.
#5 Washington Sundar
Washington Sundar is probably India’s best defensive bowler in T20I cricket. He hardly gives away runs and has the ability to bowl in the powerplay. Sundar put on quite a show with the bat in the Tests against Australia and England. His injured finger is surely a concern for the Indian team. But he is expected to definitely feature in the squad if not in the XI for the T20 World Cup.
#4 Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin has been a champion Test player for India. He has crossed the 400 wicket mark and has 5 Test centuries to his name. Ashwin is arguably one of the best Test bowlers in the world along with Pat Cummins at the moment. He is desperate to prove himself in the white-ball format too. It will be interesting to see if India uses his services for the T20 World Cup.
#3 Shardul Thakur
Shardul Thakur is one cricketer who always punches way above his weight. He swings the new ball, bowls a clever knuckle ball, and is known to pick wickets at will. Thakur’s big-hitting ability has been well documented. He will be a fine option at number 8 for India in the T20 World Cup. Thakur will lend a lot of batting depth to the team.
#2 Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja can walk into any team solely on the basis of his fielding. He has drastically improved his big-hitting skills in the last couple of years. Jadeja will play a crucial role at number 6-7 for India in the T20 World Cup. But it will be his bowling that will be under scrutiny. If Jadeja’s bowling holds then India will stand a great chance in the World Cup.
#1 Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya is the key player for India’s balance in any format. The moment Pandya delivers the role of a 4th seamer, India look like a completely different team. He and Jadeja will be expected to deliver 4 overs between them in the World Cup. Pandya’s batting form hasn’t been great lately but write him off at your own peril. He has the champion mindset and that’s what counts on the big stage.
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