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The Indian team will face Canada in their final Group A match of the T20 World Cup on Saturday. Having already secured a place in the Super Eight by winning three consecutive matches, India will play this match in Florida. All eyes will be on Virat Kohli, who, along with captain Rohit Sharma, will open the innings but has struggled in the first three matches.
Kohli's Struggles in the World Cup
After a stellar IPL season with RCB, where he scored over 700 runs at a strike rate of over 150, Kohli has failed to make an impact in the T20 World Cup, scoring only five runs with an average of 1.66 in three matches. This includes a first-ball duck against the USA. This tournament might be Kohli's last chance to win another ICC title for India, 13 years after their previous victory.
Match at Broward County Stadium
The Indian team has traveled 1850 km from New York to Florida, and it is hoped that a change of city will change Kohli's fortunes. The pitch at Broward County Stadium is expected to offer less assistance to bowlers compared to the uneven bounce and slow outfield in New York. Despite Kohli's poor form, it hasn't impacted the team's overall performance. However, Kohli’s early dismissals have put pressure on the following batsmen.
Performances by Pant and Suryakumar
Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav have compensated for Kohli's poor form. Pant scored 36 and 42 runs against Ireland and Pakistan, respectively, playing crucial roles in India’s victories. Suryakumar Yadav, after a poor start in the tournament, scored a significant half-century against the USA. Shivam Dube also made 31 runs off 35 balls against the co-hosts, likely earning preference over Sanju Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
No Changes in Playing-11 Expected
Captain Rohit Sharma usually doesn’t change a winning combination, and it is expected that there will be no changes in the Indian playing XI against Canada. However, this match is India’s last chance to make improvements before the Super Eight stage. If Jaiswal is given a chance, he might open the innings, pushing Kohli back to his number three position.
Impressive Performances by Indian Bowlers
While Indian batsmen struggled on New York’s drop-in pitches, the bowlers performed brilliantly. Jasprit Bumrah (five wickets), Hardik Pandya (seven wickets), and Arshdeep Singh (seven wickets) have consistently troubled the opposition. Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep’s performances are particularly relieving for the team management, given their struggles in the IPL. However, better performances are expected from Mohammad Siraj (one wicket) and Ravindra Jadeja.
Opportunity for Kuldeep and Chahal?
The Indian team might consider giving Kuldeep Yadav or Yuzvendra Chahal a chance against Canada. This would mean giving a break to either Jadeja or Axar Patel, who has performed well with both bat and ball. This move would allow the bowling unit to prepare for the spin-friendly pitches in the Caribbean.
Tough Challenge for Canada
On the other hand, Canada showed their potential with a 12-run win against Ireland. Players like opener Aaron Johnson are capable of surprising the opposition. However, it will not be easy for Canadian batsmen to face India’s strong team. There is a possibility of rain affecting the match, as Lauderhill, about 50 km from Miami, is dealing with flooding due to a tropical storm. This is a concern for the tournament organizers who are looking to promote cricket in the US market.
Predicted Playing-11 for Both Teams:
India: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Mohammad Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah
Canada: Aaron Johnson, Navneet Dhaliwal, Pargat Singh, Dilpreet Bajwa, Nicholas Kirton, Shreyas Movva (Wicketkeeper), Dillon Heyliger, Saad Bin Zafar (Captain), Kaleem Sana, Junaid Siddiqui, Jeremy Gordon
