New Delhi, Jan 18 (NationPress) Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik opines that the defending champions are in a strong position as they approach the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which is set to take place in India and Sri Lanka starting February 7. However, he expressed worries regarding the team’s bowling performance during the death overs, emphasizing their stacked playing XI.

Since the last two T20 World Cups, India has seen several changes, yet the cricketing style exhibited by Suryakumar Yadav & Co. continues to be a valuable asset as they prepare to defend their title.

“The Indian team is currently in an exceptionally strong position. Up to this point, they’ve achieved victory in 29 out of 36 T20 matches since the previous World Cup, which is an impressive record. In a format as unpredictable as T20, this level of consistency is quite remarkable,” Karthik shared his insights on Team India's current form during a discussion on JioStar.

“Winning 29 out of the last 36 matches is, in my opinion, quite a challenge to replicate. This statistic reflects the team’s strength. They have also performed admirably in the recent Asia Cup, emerging victorious against Pakistan three times. Within this group, we see India, Pakistan, and three associate nations that are still developing at the international level.”

“While it’s reasonable to expect India or Pakistan to triumph over them, the beauty of this format lies in the unpredictability. A lost toss can change the game dynamics, especially when bowling, leading to potential challenges in the latter stages. Achieving a score above par is crucial for defending under dew conditions. Hence, I believe India is in an excellent position,” he added.

India will compete against New Zealand in five T20Is, which will serve as valuable preparation for both teams ahead of the World Cup. Nevertheless, the former cricketer turned commentator foresees challenges in the bowling department during the death overs, attributing it to their stacked playing XI.

“Death bowling is indeed a concern. The lineup creates challenges due to its composition. In subcontinental matches, they have relied on Bumrah, Hardik as the second pacer, and Shivam Dube as the third, heavily supporting their spinners. However, towards the end of the game, particularly when defending a total, the back end can prove to be a challenge,” he concluded.