Brad Hogg picks Team India XI for T20 World Cup

Former Aussie spinner Brad Hogg took on the task to narrow down the Team India playing XI for the upcoming edition of T20 World Cup.

The Indian limited overs unit is currently in Sri Lanka for 3 match ODI & T20I series and it will be a screening test for many youngsters as they will try to put their best show possible to get a Team India nod for the T20 World Cup in U.A.E.

With a huge pool of youngsters, India are spoiled for choices, but former Australia spinner Brad Hogg sure knows the 11 Indian players he would like to have in his Playing XI. Hogg shortlisted his playing XI for Team India for the marquee tournament.

The former Aussie spinner put Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as openers meaning there is no room for Shikhar Dhawan in the XI. Suryakumar Yadav is drafted in at No.3 with KL Rahul to take up the crucial No.4 position. Rishabh Pant is in as a floater.

“My Indian team going into the T20 World Cup would have Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma opening the batting. I might be a bit harsh on Shikhar Dhawan but they need some attacking players in the middle-order and so they need to push Kohli up the order,” Hogg said in his YouTube video.

“I have Suryakumar Yadav, a youngster to international cricket, at No.3. I think his versatility is going to add a bit of spice to that batting line-up. KL Rahul is the prime runner for the No.4 spot. Coming in at No.5 is Rishabh Pant and I would keep him as a floater. If there is a wicket falling in the seventh over, I would send him up the order at dominate against spin. I would have Hardik Pandya at No.6 and Ravindra Jadeja at No.7.”

As far as the bowling combination goes, Hogg feels it will be important to see who among Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal would get the nod, while sticking to the fast-bowling trio of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shardul Thakur and Jasprit Bumrah.

Brad Hogg’s India XI for T20 World Cup:

Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav/Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah

“If Kuldeep Yadav does well in Sri Lanka, having a left-arm wrist-spinner could be a point of difference. But at the moment, Chahal is the number one spinner. Someone like a Thakur could get an opportunity due to his explosive batting and he is also good in the powerplay and at the death. Then you got Bhuvi and then Bumrah,” Hogg pointed out.