T20 WC 2021: India vs Namibia Best Predicted Playing 11

India vs Namibia – With India already eliminated, four changes expected as we look at the best predicted playing 11.

Unfortunate and disappointing are the words that come to my mind after the end of the New Zealand vs Afghanistan Super 12 match. Unfortunate because India’s fortune didn’t favor them as Afghanistan couldn’t manage to win the must-win encounter vs New Zealand. Disappointing because India’s T20 World Cup 2021 campaign ended on a negative note. 

Before the tournament, India were considered as the overwhelming favorites to win the T20 World Cup 2021. But 2 important losses against Pakistan and New Zealand rocked back Team India’s chances. While India won the remaining 2 matches, they desperately needed Afghanistan to win against New Zealand for them to qualify for Semis.

Unfortunately, the result didn’t go in Team India’s favor as they now stand eliminated even before playing the last group stage match. Since 1992, this is the first time it is happening in ICC events that India are eliminated even before their league match. This is also the first time since the T20 WC 2012 that India have failed to qualify for the Semis of an ICC event. 

Now that the World Cup hopes are already over, India have nothing but to play for pride. With the next T20I series scheduled just 2 days after the T20 World Cup, India would want to rest their key all-format players to give them some rest. So, what could be the best predicted playing 11 for Team India vs Namibia for T20 World Cup 2021? Let’s find out in this article. 

T20 World Cup 2021 – Official Squad for Team India: 

Batsmen: Ishan Kishan (WK), KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (WK), Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav & Virat Kohli

All-rounders: Hardik Pandya & Ravindra Jadeja

Bowlers: Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Rahul Chahar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur & Varun Chakravarthy

Reserves: Axar Patel, Shreyas Iyer & Deepak Chahar 

Mentor: MS Dhoni // Captain: Virat Kohli // Vice-captain: Rohit Sharma

Match Details:

Tournament: ICC T20 World Cup 2021

Type: Group 2 – India vs Namibia

Where: Dubai // When: 7:30 pm IST.

Openers: KL Rahul & Ishan Kishan (WK)

There are rumors going around that Rohit Sharma will be rested for the T20I series vs New Zealand, and KL Rahul is expected to lead. How much of this is true is not known, but with India already eliminated, this gives a golden opportunity for Rohit to rest for 10 days before taking on the captaincy for the T20I series. 

If Rohit is rested, which he Ideally is then Ishan Kishan should open alongside KL Rahul for the final match. Kishan is fearless, and this gives him a golden opportunity to make a mark on the World Cup. Meanwhile, KL Rahul might not need the rest as much as Rohit does, so he should continue to open. 

Middle-order: Virat Kohli (C) & Suryakumar Yadav

Along with Team India’s disappointing end to their campaign, it is also a disappointing end to Virat Kohli’s reign as the shortest format captain. It was only the first and last time that Virat Kohli captained India in a T20 World Cup, but unfortunately, will have to end on a low as a captain. But he would like to end his captaincy on a winning note by captaining India for one final time in the T20I format. 

Similar to Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant has also been playing continuous cricket in all formats for Team India. He may or may not be rested, but with the T20I series soon approaching, it would be ideal for Rishabh Pant to rest, and Ishan Kishan to keep. If Pant rests, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and Ravindra Jadeja may get more game time. 

All-rounders: Hardik Pandya & Ravindra Jadeja

Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja are the two first-choice all-rounders for Team India. But their utilization has been predominantly in the bowling department. Against a side like Namibia, India would want to give more batting opportunities to Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja. Hence, expect them to bat at 5 and 6 respectively. 

Pacers: Shardul Thakur & Bhuvneshwar Kumar

With Hardik and Jadeja batting at 5 and 6, the batting looks slightly thin. But against a side like Namibia, India won’t mind playing Shardul at 7, Ashwin at 8, and Bhuvneshwar at 9. The trio can bat decently, and for playing 5-10 balls in the match, if required, these three can manage it. 

Given the non-importance of the match, the pace bowling duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami could be rested for the Namibia match. The all-format duo has also been playing continuous cricket, and they deserve the much-needed rest. In place of them, India can look to play Shardul Thakur and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. 

Spinners: Ravichandran Ashwin, Rahul Chahar & Varun Chakravarthy

Until now, only Rahul Chahar hasn’t got a game in the World Cup so far. But tomorrow could be the opportunity for Chahar to make his World Cup debut. The trio spin combination of Ashwin, Chakravarthy, and Chahar could be lethal against the Namibian batting line-up. Chahar can also come in for Chakravarthy too. 

T20 World Cup 2021 India vs Namibia – Predicted Playing 11 for Team India:

Ishan Kishan (WK), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli (C), Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rahul Chahar & Varun Chakravarthy. 

T20 World Cup 2021 India vs Namibia – Predicted Playing 11 for Namibia:

Stephan Baard, Michael van Lingen, Craig Williams, Gerhard Erasmus (C), 5 David Wiese, JJ Smit, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Zane Green (wk), Jan Frylinck, Ruben Trumpelmann & Ben Shikongo.

Thanks for reading! Are you happy with Team India’s T20 World Cup campaign? Please email your thoughts to business@cricalytics.com

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