Dravid: Kohli, Sharma, Suryakumar Hamper India's Performance

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As the T20 World Cup 2024 draws near, concerns loom over the Indian cricket team's lack of all-round options, exacerbated by the absence of the 'Impact Player' rule, a staple in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Former cricketers and pundits are engaged in a strategic discourse, pondering over the optimal playing XI for India, given this pressing predicament.

Former India all-rounder, Irfan Pathan, articulates the crux of the issue, emphasizing the imperative for a diversified bowling arsenal within the team composition. With stalwarts like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Suryakumar Yadav primarily focused on batting, the team's versatility is significantly curtailed. Pathan advocates for the inclusion of players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, lauding not just their batting prowess but also their capacity to contribute a few overs if necessary.

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During an insightful conversation on Star Sports, Pathan delineates potential playing XI combinations to address this shortfall. He suggests two possible configurations: one comprising six bowlers, leveraging Axar Patel's dual utility to bolster the batting lineup; the other, with four frontline bowlers, banking on Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya to shoulder bowling responsibilities. Notably, Pathan highlights the latent potential in players like Jaiswal and Dube, who have exhibited bowling aptitude in practice sessions.

Pathan's sentiments resonate with those of another illustrious former cricketer, Sanjay Manjrekar. Manjrekar concurs on the dearth of all-rounders in the Indian contingent, underscoring the indispensable role that players like Dube and Pandya must assume to achieve equipoise. Drawing parallels with cricketing powerhouses like Australia, Manjrekar emphasizes the strategic advantage conferred by batters who can also contribute four overs per match.

The consensus among pundits is clear: India's campaign in the T20 World Cup 2024 hinges on their ability to surmount this deficiency in all-round options. With the advent of the impact substitute rule in the IPL further spotlighting this lacuna, the onus is on the team management to devise astute strategies that optimize the available resources. As the cricketing fraternity eagerly anticipates the tournament, the spotlight remains firmly fixed on India's quest to forge a balanced and formidable squad capable of conquering the global stage.