Besides testing the ground conditions and the nature of the drop-in pitches being used at the venue — where India will play their first three group matches against Ireland, Pakistan and USA, Rohit Sharma’s team will look to find answers to a few questions that will help the captain and chief coach Rahul Dravid decide the preferred playing XI.
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Talking about the same on Star Sports, former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar touched upon India’s likely objectives in their only warm-up game before the campaign opener against Ireland on June 5.
Opening Combination
“Who will open — the left-right combination of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma or because Virat Kohli is there, so he should open?” said Manjrekar in his first point.
India may foremost think of having one left-hander and one right-hander at the top, which automotically books Jaiswal one of the opening slot. The toss-up will then be between Rohit and Virat, who has opened successfully in the format for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League. But will Rohit be comfortable batting at No. 3 or will the team stick with the tried and tested formula and let Virat continue to bat at No. 3?
Manjrekar pointed at anonther interesting possibility. “Maybe Yashasvi Jaiswal is not in the playing XI (when tournament begins), that I think might be a solution.”
The warm-up game permits the teams to utilize all 15 players in their respective squads.
The choice of wicketkeeper-batsman
“Who are you looking to prefer, Sanju Samson on Rishabh Pant? I feel the earlier you bring Pant back in India colours in this tournament the better. Maybe it starts with the warm-up match,” reckoned Manjrekar.
Preferred spinners
“We know what we get with Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja (option to bat deep). Kuldeep Yadav is in very good form. (Yuzvendra) Chahal in India colours is one of their main spinners. His form waned a little towards the end of the Indian Premier League; but there is no connection, domestic league vs international, where the batters are under a little tension. Chahal might have a good time. So Chahal’s form, it will be crucial,” said Manjrekar.
“All that you have to look to address in the warm-up match,” he said on a concluding note.