Amid calls for Virat Kohli to be dropped from India's T20I squad over his ongoing lean patch, former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer has backed the senior batter to retain his no.3 spot in the batting lineup at the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia later this year. Jaffer believes Kohli will keep his original no.3 spot despite poor form in international cricket at present.

Kohli has been enduring a lean patch across all formats for the Indian team for a while now and has been far from consistent with the willow. He has also struggled to notch up big scores for the team and his last international century for India came in November 2019.&nbsp;

The senior Indian batter's form came under the scanner during India's tour of England earlier this year where he flopped in all three formats before being rested from India's onging tour of West Indies. Kohli will miss India's upcoming tour of Zimbabwe and is expected to make his comeback for the Asia Cup 2022 next month.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/behave-like-a-human-being-shahid-afridi-on-city-biases-in-pakistan-team-selection-502602">'Behave like a human being' - Shahid Afridi on 'city biases' in Pakistan team selection</a>

Despite his woeful form, Jaffer has backed Kohli to be India's no.3 at the T20 World Cup Down Under. The former India cricketer also feels captain Rohit Sharma will open the batting with KL Rahul in the tournament and believes the likes of Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson can play key roles for the team.

“Virat will remain in his original No. 3 place in the team. KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma should open, and other players like Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, and Ishan Kishan can contribute significantly to the squad. I feel that the aggressive approach that India has undertaken is very nice to witness. India’s chances of winning (T20 World Cup) are bright," Jaffer said on the ‘CricChat Powered by Parimatch’ podcast on the Sharechat app.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/luckily-dinesh-karthik-was-born-in-india-former-pakistan-captain-aims-brutal-dig-at-pcb-502298">'Luckily, Dinesh Karthik was born in India': Former Pakistan captain aims brutal dig at PCB</a>

Kohli is currently enjoying his break with his family and will be eager to regain his form when he makes his comeback for Team India in the upcoming Asia Cup. Kohli was rested from the last edition of the Asia Cup in 2018 where Rohit Sharma led India to victory. The former captain will be hoping for redemption in the tournament this year.

Amid calls for Virat Kohli to be dropped from India's T20I squad over his ongoing lean patch, former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer has backed the senior batter to retain his no.

Amid calls for Virat Kohli to be dropped from India's T20I squad over his ongoing lean patch, former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer has backed the senior batter to retain his no.3 spot in the batting lineup at the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia later this year. Jaffer believes Kohli will keep his original no.3 spot despite poor form in international cricket at present. Kohli has been enduring a lean patch across all formats for the Indian team for a while now and has been far from consistent with the willow. He has also struggled to notch up big scores for the team and his last international century for India came in November 2019. The senior Indian batter's form came under the scanner during India's tour of England earlier this year where he flopped in all three formats before being rested from India's onging tour of West Indies. Kohli will miss India's upcoming tour of Zimbabwe and is expected to make his comeback for the Asia Cup 2022 next month. Also Read: 'Behave like a human being' - Shahid Afridi on 'city biases' in Pakistan team selection Despite his woeful form, Jaffer has backed Kohli to be India's no.3 at the T20 World Cup Down Under. The former India cricketer also feels captain Rohit Sharma will open the batting with KL Rahul in the tournament and believes the likes of Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson can play key roles for the team. “Virat will remain in his original No. 3 place in the team. KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma should open, and other players like Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, and Ishan Kishan can contribute significantly to the squad. I feel that the aggressive approach that India has undertaken is very nice to witness. India’s chances of winning (T20 World Cup) are bright," Jaffer said on the ‘CricChat Powered by Parimatch’ podcast on the Sharechat app. Also Read: 'Luckily, Dinesh Karthik was born in India': Former Pakistan captain aims brutal dig at PCB Kohli is currently enjoying his break with his family and will be eager to regain his form when he makes his comeback for Team India in the upcoming Asia Cup. Kohli was rested from the last edition of the Asia Cup in 2018 where Rohit Sharma led India to victory. The former captain will be hoping for redemption in the tournament this year.

Virat Kohli will remain at no.3: Wasim Jaffer on ex-India captain's batting spot for T20 World Cup 2022

Dinesh Karthik seems all but certain to make the cut in India's squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022 as he continues to enjoy a stellar run with the willow. Karthik had a phenomenal season as a finisher for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 earlier this year and has been unstoppable ever since.

At one stage it looked like Karthik's international career was done and dusted but the veteran wicket-keeper batter has managed to spark a sensational turnaround this year. From not being in the reckoning for the Indian team, Karthik seems to have cemented his spot as a finisher in the Indian T20I team ahead of the World Cup.

Karthik continued his purple patch in the 1st T20I between India and West Indies at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad on Friday. The 37-year-old once again proved why he is currently India's best finisher as far as the shortest format is concerned with a terrific knock of unbeaten 41 off just 19 balls.

Karthik came out to bat at number 7 and went berserk from the word go. His quickfire 41 was laced with 4 fours and 2 sixes helping India post a strong total of 190 runs on the board in 20 overs. After his impressive knock, a member of the Indian selection panel opened up on Karthik's chances of making it to the T20 World Cup 2022 squad.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-didnt-understand-it-mohammad-kaif-slams-team-india-for-not-bacing-rishabh-pant-as-opener-in-t20is-501977">'I didn't understand it': Md.&nbsp;Kaif slams Team India for not backing Rishabh Pant as opener in T20Is</a>

The Indian selector said Karthik is now a certainty in India's squad for the T20 World Cup in Australia this year after his recent batting exploits while insisting that his experience will be a huge asset for the Indian team at the showpiece event Down Under.

"Who can stop Dinesh Karthik now? He is certainty now for T20 World Cup in Australia. He is consistent in his approach and most importantly consistently delivering via his approach. His experience will now be a big asset," the member of the Indian selection panel was quoted as saying by InsideSport.

"No formal talk has happened on the subject. Informally when we speak, all are very impressed with him and his attitude," he added.

Karthik has been consistent in the lower-middle order and has mastered the art of finishing for Team India. The 37-year-old has played some brilliant knocks for India over the last few months and has already cemented his spot in the T20 World Cup 2022 squad.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-vs-west-indies-1st-t20i-rohit-sharma-and-dinesh-karthiks-set-up-a-convincing-68-runs-victory-501945">India vs West Indies, 1st T20I; Rohit Sharma and Dinesh Karthik set up a convincing 68-runs victory</a>

Thanks to Karthik's finishing cameo and captain Rohit&nbsp;Sharma's brilliant 64-run knock, India thrashed West Indies by 68 runs in the first T20I on Friday to go 1-0 up in the five-match series. Speaking about his performance post the game, Karthik said the ultimate aim remains to do well in the T20 World Cup for India this year.

“I think it’s a very very different team. I must admit that I am really enjoying myself in this setup. The kind of calmness that seems to be around, a lot of credit should go to the coach and captain. These are all small tick-boxes that we need to have at this stage of the game. But obviously, the ultimate goal is to do well in the World Cup,” said Karthik.

Dinesh Karthik seems all but certain to make the cut in India's squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022 as he continues to enjoy a stellar run with the willow.

Dinesh Karthik seems all but certain to make the cut in India's squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022 as he continues to enjoy a stellar run with the willow. Karthik had a phenomenal season as a finisher for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 earlier this year and has been unstoppable ever since. At one stage it looked like Karthik's international career was done and dusted but the veteran wicket-keeper batter has managed to spark a sensational turnaround this year. From not being in the reckoning for the Indian team, Karthik seems to have cemented his spot as a finisher in the Indian T20I team ahead of the World Cup. Karthik continued his purple patch in the 1st T20I between India and West Indies at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad on Friday. The 37-year-old once again proved why he is currently India's best finisher as far as the shortest format is concerned with a terrific knock of unbeaten 41 off just 19 balls. Karthik came out to bat at number 7 and went berserk from the word go. His quickfire 41 was laced with 4 fours and 2 sixes helping India post a strong total of 190 runs on the board in 20 overs. After his impressive knock, a member of the Indian selection panel opened up on Karthik's chances of making it to the T20 World Cup 2022 squad. Also Read: 'I didn't understand it': Md. Kaif slams Team India for not backing Rishabh Pant as opener in T20Is The Indian selector said Karthik is now a certainty in India's squad for the T20 World Cup in Australia this year after his recent batting exploits while insisting that his experience will be a huge asset for the Indian team at the showpiece event Down Under. "Who can stop Dinesh Karthik now? He is certainty now for T20 World Cup in Australia. He is consistent in his approach and most importantly consistently delivering via his approach. His experience will now be a big asset," the member of the Indian selection panel was quoted as saying by InsideSport. "No formal talk has happened on the subject. Informally when we speak, all are very impressed with him and his attitude," he added. Karthik has been consistent in the lower-middle order and has mastered the art of finishing for Team India. The 37-year-old has played some brilliant knocks for India over the last few months and has already cemented his spot in the T20 World Cup 2022 squad. Also Read: India vs West Indies, 1st T20I; Rohit Sharma and Dinesh Karthik set up a convincing 68-runs victory Thanks to Karthik's finishing cameo and captain Rohit Sharma's brilliant 64-run knock, India thrashed West Indies by 68 runs in the first T20I on Friday to go 1-0 up in the five-match series. Speaking about his performance post the game, Karthik said the ultimate aim remains to do well in the T20 World Cup for India this year. “I think it’s a very very different team. I must admit that I am really enjoying myself in this setup. The kind of calmness that seems to be around, a lot of credit should go to the coach and captain. These are all small tick-boxes that we need to have at this stage of the game. But obviously, the ultimate goal is to do well in the World Cup,” said Karthik.

'Who can stop him now?': BCCI selector on Dinesh Karthik's chances of making it to India's T20 World Cup squad

Rohit Sharma is back in-charge of India ahead of the West Indies T20Is, which gets underway on July 29 (Friday). Rohit was not part of the Shikhar Dhawan-led Indian team that whitewashed the Nicholas Poora-led Windies, in the Caribbean island, but will now take over and expect the T20I line-up to continue their winning momentum.

Ahead of the series opener in Trinidad, Rohit defended India's new-found T20I approach, where the Men in Blue have now become more fearless and there is a sense of urgency with the bat post the drubbing in the last edition of the T20 World Cup (in the UAE in 2021). Rohit defended the approach and stated that even though the team might not be successful at all times with such a high-risk approach, they won't be a bad team with some defeats and stressed they are learning with each game.

"That is why I repeat, the people outside the scene should keep calm and maintain silence. The brand of cricket which we are currently playing, there will be failures at times, the results may not go in favour, but that is completely fine, no problem with it, because we are trying to learn something with it."

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"We are trying to do something different, so there may be instances where we make mistakes, but it does not mean that the players or the team are bad," the skipper said while addressing a reporter ahead of the first T20I vs WI.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/why-would-he-care-shahid-afridi-gives-savage-response-on-being-asked-about-virat-kohlis-form-501666">'Why would he care.....?' Shahid Afridi gives savage response on being asked about Virat Kohli's form</a>

Rohit further highlighted that even though the Men in Blue have not won a World Cup but they were not a bad team, and shunned claims of being conservative in their approach. In this regard, the 35-year-old Hitman said, "We have not won any World Cups, but that does not mean we have been performing poorly in the last few years. I do not agree that we were playing conservative cricket. You lose a couple of matches in the World Cup and suddenly there is talk of the team trying something else."

"If you look at the overall games that we have played, leading into the WC, we have won around 80 percent of our games.&nbsp;You need to change with time, we are trying to change as well, so the people outside also need to change their thinking. We still have to fill some spots in the team before the T20 World Cup, we also know what needs to be done to fill those spots. So, we are trying, with all these matches that are being played to address those things," Rohit added.
</section>

Rohit Sharma is back in-charge of India ahead of the West Indies T20Is, which gets underway on July 29 (Friday). Rohit was not part of the Shikhar Dhawan-led Indian team that whitewashed the Nicholas Poora-led Windies, in the Caribbean island, but will now take over and expect the T20I line-up to continue their winning momentum.

Rohit Sharma is back in-charge of India ahead of the West Indies T20Is, which gets underway on July 29 (Friday). Rohit was not part of the Shikhar Dhawan-led Indian team that whitewashed the Nicholas Poora-led Windies, in the Caribbean island, but will now take over and expect the T20I line-up to continue their winning momentum. Ahead of the series opener in Trinidad, Rohit defended India's new-found T20I approach, where the Men in Blue have now become more fearless and there is a sense of urgency with the bat post the drubbing in the last edition of the T20 World Cup (in the UAE in 2021). Rohit defended the approach and stated that even though the team might not be successful at all times with such a high-risk approach, they won't be a bad team with some defeats and stressed they are learning with each game. "That is why I repeat, the people outside the scene should keep calm and maintain silence. The brand of cricket which we are currently playing, there will be failures at times, the results may not go in favour, but that is completely fine, no problem with it, because we are trying to learn something with it." "We are trying to do something different, so there may be instances where we make mistakes, but it does not mean that the players or the team are bad," the skipper said while addressing a reporter ahead of the first T20I vs WI. ALSO READ | 'Why would he care.....?' Shahid Afridi gives savage response on being asked about Virat Kohli's form Rohit further highlighted that even though the Men in Blue have not won a World Cup but they were not a bad team, and shunned claims of being conservative in their approach. In this regard, the 35-year-old Hitman said, "We have not won any World Cups, but that does not mean we have been performing poorly in the last few years. I do not agree that we were playing conservative cricket. You lose a couple of matches in the World Cup and suddenly there is talk of the team trying something else." "If you look at the overall games that we have played, leading into the WC, we have won around 80 percent of our games. You need to change with time, we are trying to change as well, so the people outside also need to change their thinking. We still have to fill some spots in the team before the T20 World Cup, we also know what needs to be done to fill those spots. So, we are trying, with all these matches that are being played to address those things," Rohit added.

'People outside should....': Rohit Sharma gives sharp response defending India's new T20I approach

Virat Kohli's form continues to be a cause of concern for Team India and its ardent fans. While Kohli is out of action at present and isn't part of Rohit Sharma &amp; Co.'s white-ball tour of the West Indies, the 33-year-old continues to make headlines as many former cricketers and experts share their views and give advises to the star batter on how to regain his form.

Many former players have commented on Kohli's recent rut. In the recent England tour, he returned without a single half-century across format whereas his last international ton came in late 2019. His dismissals are of similar pattern, poking at deliveries outside the off-stump, hence, many have opined on his lack of runs. Recently, when a journalist asked former Pakistan all-rounder and captain Shahid Afridi to comment on Kohli's struggles, the legendary cricketer gave a befitting reply.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/in-odis-i-will-when-virat-kohli-made-bold-claim-of-emulating-sachin-tendulkars-50-over-heroics-501505">'In ODIs, I will....' - When Virat Kohli made bold claim of emulating Sachin Tendulkar's 50-over heroics</a>

"Usne mere mashware ko kya dekhna hai (Why would he care about my advice?). He has to perform because the expectations from him are so high. And for a very long time, there has been no performance from him according to the standards that he has set for himself," Afridi was seen replying to reporters' questions in&nbsp;a video which was shared&nbsp;by Sports Paktv.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-is-the-best-modern-day-player-in-last-10-years-former-pakistan-batter-praises-under-fire-virat-kohli-501465">He is the best modern-day player in last 10 years: Former Pakistan batter praises under-fire Virat Kohli</a>

Afridi also opined on India-Pakistan's upcoming clash in the 2022 Asia Cup, which will be held in the shortest format, in the UAE. Both sides are expected to meet more than once before also locking horns in the forthcoming 2022 T20 World Cup, in Australia, from October-November.

"As far as the Pakistan team is concerned, it is a balanced side. I hope that not only in the Asia Cup but even in the World Cup, our performances will be good. I hope the players are fit, because I don't see much strength on the bench. But the 11-12 first-team players that we have, they are very strong and I hope they will bring in good results,"&nbsp;the former captain added.

Virat Kohli's form continues to be a cause of concern for Team India and its ardent fans. While Kohli is out of action at present and isn't part of Rohit Sharma & Co.

Virat Kohli's form continues to be a cause of concern for Team India and its ardent fans. While Kohli is out of action at present and isn't part of Rohit Sharma & Co.'s white-ball tour of the West Indies, the 33-year-old continues to make headlines as many former cricketers and experts share their views and give advises to the star batter on how to regain his form. Many former players have commented on Kohli's recent rut. In the recent England tour, he returned without a single half-century across format whereas his last international ton came in late 2019. His dismissals are of similar pattern, poking at deliveries outside the off-stump, hence, many have opined on his lack of runs. Recently, when a journalist asked former Pakistan all-rounder and captain Shahid Afridi to comment on Kohli's struggles, the legendary cricketer gave a befitting reply. ALSO READ | 'In ODIs, I will....' - When Virat Kohli made bold claim of emulating Sachin Tendulkar's 50-over heroics "Usne mere mashware ko kya dekhna hai (Why would he care about my advice?). He has to perform because the expectations from him are so high. And for a very long time, there has been no performance from him according to the standards that he has set for himself," Afridi was seen replying to reporters' questions in a video which was shared by Sports Paktv. ALSO READ | He is the best modern-day player in last 10 years: Former Pakistan batter praises under-fire Virat Kohli Afridi also opined on India-Pakistan's upcoming clash in the 2022 Asia Cup, which will be held in the shortest format, in the UAE. Both sides are expected to meet more than once before also locking horns in the forthcoming 2022 T20 World Cup, in Australia, from October-November. "As far as the Pakistan team is concerned, it is a balanced side. I hope that not only in the Asia Cup but even in the World Cup, our performances will be good. I hope the players are fit, because I don't see much strength on the bench. But the 11-12 first-team players that we have, they are very strong and I hope they will bring in good results," the former captain added.

'Why would he care.....?' Shahid Afridi gives savage response on being asked about Virat Kohli's form

Rohit Sharma will be back in action for Team India when the Men in Blue face Nicholas Pooran-led West Indies in the five-match T20I series opener, on the Caribbean island, on Friday (July 29). The regular Indian captain was rested for the just-concluded three ODIs as Shikhar Dhawan led the team in his absence and guided India to their maiden ODI series whitewash over the Windies away from home.

After the 50-over series, the action now shifts back to the shortest format ahead of the T20 World Cup (to be held in Australia later this year). Rohit will like his team to maintain the winning run and the 35-year-old will also aim to leapfrog New Zealand's Martin Guptill to regain an elite record, of having the most runs in men's T20Is.&nbsp;&nbsp;

NZ opener Guptill was trailing Rohit's tally (3,379) by 21 runs before the Black Caps' first T20I versus hosts Scotland on Wednesday (July 27). He breached Rohit's run-tally by virtue of a 40-run knock during Kiwis' 68-run win over the Scottish line-up&nbsp;in the two-match series opener in&nbsp;Edinburgh. Guptill now has 3,399 runs in 116 T20Is. Thus, Rohit now needs 21 runs to regain the top spot for most runs in men's T20Is.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-is-the-best-modern-day-player-in-last-10-years-former-pakistan-batter-praises-under-fire-virat-kohli-501465">He is the best modern-day player in last 10 years: Former Pakistan batter praises under-fire Virat Kohli</a>

India will meet West Indies in the T20I series opener at the&nbsp;Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad. The series will end on August 07, after which&nbsp;the national side will shift focus towards the 2022 Asia Cup, to be played in the shortest format, from August 27-September 11 in the UAE.

India squad for WI T20Is

Rohit Sharma (Captain), Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul*, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer, Dinesh Karthik, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav*, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh.

Rohit Sharma will be back in action for Team India when the Men in Blue face Nicholas Pooran-led West Indies in the five-match T20I series opener, on the Caribbean island, on Friday (July 29).

Rohit Sharma will be back in action for Team India when the Men in Blue face Nicholas Pooran-led West Indies in the five-match T20I series opener, on the Caribbean island, on Friday (July 29). The regular Indian captain was rested for the just-concluded three ODIs as Shikhar Dhawan led the team in his absence and guided India to their maiden ODI series whitewash over the Windies away from home. After the 50-over series, the action now shifts back to the shortest format ahead of the T20 World Cup (to be held in Australia later this year). Rohit will like his team to maintain the winning run and the 35-year-old will also aim to leapfrog New Zealand's Martin Guptill to regain an elite record, of having the most runs in men's T20Is. NZ opener Guptill was trailing Rohit's tally (3,379) by 21 runs before the Black Caps' first T20I versus hosts Scotland on Wednesday (July 27). He breached Rohit's run-tally by virtue of a 40-run knock during Kiwis' 68-run win over the Scottish line-up in the two-match series opener in Edinburgh. Guptill now has 3,399 runs in 116 T20Is. Thus, Rohit now needs 21 runs to regain the top spot for most runs in men's T20Is. ALSO READ | He is the best modern-day player in last 10 years: Former Pakistan batter praises under-fire Virat Kohli India will meet West Indies in the T20I series opener at the Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad. The series will end on August 07, after which the national side will shift focus towards the 2022 Asia Cup, to be played in the shortest format, from August 27-September 11 in the UAE. India squad for WI T20Is Rohit Sharma (Captain), Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul*, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer, Dinesh Karthik, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav*, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh.

WI vs IND, 1st T20I: Captain Rohit Sharma aims to regain elite record in series opener

Virat Kohli continues to be the centre of attention in world cricket. The former Indian captain has not been in action for Team India since the end of the England tour as he has been rested and is&nbsp;not part of Men in Blue's white-ball assignments in the West Indies.&nbsp;

Nonetheless, his form remains a cause of concern and a topic of discussion among the cricketing fraternity. In the England tour, the 33-year-old Kohli failed to touch the 50-run mark across formats whereas his international century-drought continues since late 2019, in the pre-Covid era. Even in&nbsp;IPL 2022, the veteran batter remained below-par, striking at 115.98 to manage only 341 runs -- with two half-centuries. His last IPL ton also came in the 2019 edition.

Thus, Kohli's form continues to draw attention and many former cricketers and experts have opined on his dry run. Pakistan's former batsman Mohammad Yousuf also joined in and stated that this is just 'part&nbsp;of the game'. Further, he lavished huge praise on Kohli, calling him 'best modern-day player in last 10 years'.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-dhawan-leads-inds-celebrations-after-dravids-winning-speech-as-men-in-blue-whitewash-wi-in-odis-501397">WATCH: Dhawan leads IND's celebrations after Dravid's winning speech as Men in Blue whitewash WI in ODIs</a>

"This is a part of the game where a player goes out of form. It has been a lengthier patch for him. But what he has contributed so far, after Sachin Tendulkar, is the player to make that kind of a contribution. He has scored 71 centuries, within a span off 11 years, especially in white-ball cricket. In Tests, he could not do as much as he did in white-ball cricket. However, he has scored 27 Test tons as well. For me, this is a part of the game. Maybe it has to do with the way he has been treated that he has gone under pressure. He would know better," Yousuf said during a chat with Pakistan channel ARY News.

It is expected that Kohli will join Team India for the upcoming Asia Cup 2022 edition, in the UAE, and will be part of every series for Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. in the run-up to this year's T20 World Cup, to be held in Australia from October-November.

Virat Kohli continues to be the centre of attention in world cricket. The former Indian captain has not been in action for Team India since the end of the England tour as he has been rested and is not part of Men in Blue's white-ball assignments in the West Indies.

Virat Kohli continues to be the centre of attention in world cricket. The former Indian captain has not been in action for Team India since the end of the England tour as he has been rested and is not part of Men in Blue's white-ball assignments in the West Indies. Nonetheless, his form remains a cause of concern and a topic of discussion among the cricketing fraternity. In the England tour, the 33-year-old Kohli failed to touch the 50-run mark across formats whereas his international century-drought continues since late 2019, in the pre-Covid era. Even in IPL 2022, the veteran batter remained below-par, striking at 115.98 to manage only 341 runs -- with two half-centuries. His last IPL ton also came in the 2019 edition. Thus, Kohli's form continues to draw attention and many former cricketers and experts have opined on his dry run. Pakistan's former batsman Mohammad Yousuf also joined in and stated that this is just 'part of the game'. Further, he lavished huge praise on Kohli, calling him 'best modern-day player in last 10 years'. ALSO READ | WATCH: Dhawan leads IND's celebrations after Dravid's winning speech as Men in Blue whitewash WI in ODIs "This is a part of the game where a player goes out of form. It has been a lengthier patch for him. But what he has contributed so far, after Sachin Tendulkar, is the player to make that kind of a contribution. He has scored 71 centuries, within a span off 11 years, especially in white-ball cricket. In Tests, he could not do as much as he did in white-ball cricket. However, he has scored 27 Test tons as well. For me, this is a part of the game. Maybe it has to do with the way he has been treated that he has gone under pressure. He would know better," Yousuf said during a chat with Pakistan channel ARY News. It is expected that Kohli will join Team India for the upcoming Asia Cup 2022 edition, in the UAE, and will be part of every series for Rohit Sharma & Co. in the run-up to this year's T20 World Cup, to be held in Australia from October-November.

He is the best modern-day player in last 10 years: Former Pakistan batter praises under-fire Virat Kohli

United Arab Emirates will replace Sri Lanka as the venue for the Asia Cup, starting next month, due to the ongoing political and economic crisis in the island nation, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) said. Sri Lanka will, however, remain hosts for the nine-team tournament, which will be played between Aug. 27-Sept&nbsp;11 and serve as preparation for the Asian sides in the leadup to the Twenty20 World Cup later this year.

The country of 22 million people has been crippled by an economic crisis, with shortages of fuel, food and other necessities. The Sri Lankan parliament on Wednesday approved the extension of a state of emergency for a month. Shammi Silva, the president of Sri Lanka`s cricket board (SLC) said they "fully stand by the ACC`s decision" to relocate the tournament.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-dhawan-leads-inds-celebrations-after-dravids-winning-speech-as-men-in-blue-whitewash-wi-in-odis-501397">WATCH: Dhawan leads IND's celebrations after Dravid's winning speech as Men in Blue whitewash WI in ODIs</a>

"Every effort was made to host the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and the decision to shift the venue to the UAE was taken after much deliberation," ACC president Jay Shah said in a statement. "The UAE will be the new venue while Sri Lanka will continue to retain hosting rights. This edition of the Asia Cup is extremely important as it will help Asian nations prepare for the ICC World Cup."

United Arab Emirates will replace Sri Lanka as the venue for the Asia Cup, starting next month, due to the ongoing political and economic crisis in the island nation, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) said.

United Arab Emirates will replace Sri Lanka as the venue for the Asia Cup, starting next month, due to the ongoing political and economic crisis in the island nation, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) said. Sri Lanka will, however, remain hosts for the nine-team tournament, which will be played between Aug. 27-Sept 11 and serve as preparation for the Asian sides in the leadup to the Twenty20 World Cup later this year. The country of 22 million people has been crippled by an economic crisis, with shortages of fuel, food and other necessities. The Sri Lankan parliament on Wednesday approved the extension of a state of emergency for a month. Shammi Silva, the president of Sri Lanka`s cricket board (SLC) said they "fully stand by the ACC`s decision" to relocate the tournament. ALSO READ | WATCH: Dhawan leads IND's celebrations after Dravid's winning speech as Men in Blue whitewash WI in ODIs "Every effort was made to host the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and the decision to shift the venue to the UAE was taken after much deliberation," ACC president Jay Shah said in a statement. "The UAE will be the new venue while Sri Lanka will continue to retain hosting rights. This edition of the Asia Cup is extremely important as it will help Asian nations prepare for the ICC World Cup."

Asia Cup 2022 edition shifted out of Sri Lanka, to be held in UAE

Virat Kohli's dry run with the bat has left the whole nation disappointed. The former Indian captain last scored an international ton in late 2019 whereas he failed to touch the fifty-run mark throughout India's tour of England.

While Kohli isn't part of India's ongoing white-ball tour of West Indies, many former cricketers and experts continue to share their views on his indifferent run at the highest level. The latest to join the bandwagon is former Indian spinner Pragyan Ojha. Ojha recently revealed the real reason behind head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma's relentless backing of an under-fire Kohli.

“When you talk about Virat Kohli, you have to understand the things he has achieved … they are not normal. Getting those 70 hundreds in a span of about 10 years is outstanding.

"Who are the other players who have done that? Not many. That is the reason why Rohit [Sharma], Rahul bhai [Dravid] and the team are backing him," Ojha pointed out while speaking to Jamie Alter on his Glance chat show, The Alternate View.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/no-one-has-right-to-question-virat-kohlis-position-in-team-india-says-csk-opener-robin-uthappa-500821">No one has right to question Virat Kohli's position in Team India, says CSK opener Robin Uthappa</a>

“They know that if he gets that one knock, things will turn around and suddenly you will see the old Virat Kohli. And when you have that Virat Kohli in your team and you’re going for the T20 World Cup and then the 50-overs World Cup, any team would do anything to get him. I think it’s just a matter of time," Ojha further asserted on Kohli's form.

“See, with cricket, it’s not about mathematics that two plus two is four. You will fail. That’s the beauty of sport. This is Virat Kohli we’re talking about. His conversion rate has been tremendous."

“When you look at Virat’s batting, it is not about the skill or that he’s not timing it well or his fitness has taken a beating. He’s just there, and I think better than others with his work ethic and discipline. The only thing is that maybe mentally he’s a little caught up somewhere. Maybe that’s why he’s been regularly taking breaks," said the former spinner, who is a veteran of 24 Tests, 18 ODIs and 6 T20Is.

Virat Kohli's dry run with the bat has left the whole nation disappointed. The former Indian captain last scored an international ton in late 2019 whereas he failed to touch the fifty-run mark throughout India's tour of England.

Virat Kohli's dry run with the bat has left the whole nation disappointed. The former Indian captain last scored an international ton in late 2019 whereas he failed to touch the fifty-run mark throughout India's tour of England. While Kohli isn't part of India's ongoing white-ball tour of West Indies, many former cricketers and experts continue to share their views on his indifferent run at the highest level. The latest to join the bandwagon is former Indian spinner Pragyan Ojha. Ojha recently revealed the real reason behind head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma's relentless backing of an under-fire Kohli. “When you talk about Virat Kohli, you have to understand the things he has achieved … they are not normal. Getting those 70 hundreds in a span of about 10 years is outstanding. "Who are the other players who have done that? Not many. That is the reason why Rohit [Sharma], Rahul bhai [Dravid] and the team are backing him," Ojha pointed out while speaking to Jamie Alter on his Glance chat show, The Alternate View. ALSO READ | No one has right to question Virat Kohli's position in Team India, says CSK opener Robin Uthappa “They know that if he gets that one knock, things will turn around and suddenly you will see the old Virat Kohli. And when you have that Virat Kohli in your team and you’re going for the T20 World Cup and then the 50-overs World Cup, any team would do anything to get him. I think it’s just a matter of time," Ojha further asserted on Kohli's form. “See, with cricket, it’s not about mathematics that two plus two is four. You will fail. That’s the beauty of sport. This is Virat Kohli we’re talking about. His conversion rate has been tremendous." “When you look at Virat’s batting, it is not about the skill or that he’s not timing it well or his fitness has taken a beating. He’s just there, and I think better than others with his work ethic and discipline. The only thing is that maybe mentally he’s a little caught up somewhere. Maybe that’s why he’s been regularly taking breaks," said the former spinner, who is a veteran of 24 Tests, 18 ODIs and 6 T20Is.

Former India spinner reveals reason behind Rahul Dravid-Rohit Sharma's support for under-fire Virat Kohli

The T20 World Cup is nearing its commencement. The eighth edition of the marquee tournament will be held in Australia for the first time, from October-Novamber and will be played in the same format as the 2021 edition.

Aaron Finch-led Australia will not only be the hosts but also start as the defending champions after the Men in Yellow won their maiden T20 WC trophy last year, beating New Zealand in a one-sided Trans-Tasman battle in Dubai.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wi-vs-ind-shikhar-dhawan-led-india-on-cusp-of-attaining-massive-feat-in-3rd-odi-in-trinidad-500893">WI vs IND: Shikhar Dhawan-led India on cusp of attaining MASSIVE feat in 3rd ODI in Trinidad</a>

Ahead of the showpiece event Down Under, former Aussie captain and two-time ODI World Cup-winning skipper Ricky Ponting made a bold claim. He feels Rohit Sharma-led India will enter the tournament final but lose to Australia in the summit clash. "I think India and Australia will be the two playing in the final and I will just have to say that Australia will beat them in the final. The reigning champions have got home conditions and that was one thing that made Australia's win in the last World Cup, not remarkable, but that little bit sweeter for them," Ponting said on ICC Review.

<section>
ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fantastic-option-former-pakistan-cricketer-backs-young-indian-player-for-t20-wc-asia-cup-squads-500838">'Fantastic option': Former Pakistan cricketer backs young Indian player for T20 WC &amp; Asia Cup squads</a>

Ponting, the Delhi Capitals (DC) head coach, is quite optimistic of his team's chances after they did very well in the last edition, which was held in challenging conditions -- in&nbsp;the UAE -- for the Aussies. "The fact that a lot of people, me included, thought when they went to UAE, the conditions that they were going to have to face on the back of the IPL, I thought the conditions might have been the thing that might not have allowed them to win it. But they found a way," Ponting added.

Australia and India are placed in different groups in the Super 12 round. Will they meet each other in the finale? Only time will tell...
</section>

The T20 World Cup is nearing its commencement. The eighth edition of the marquee tournament will be held in Australia for the first time, from October-Novamber and will be played in the same format as the 2021 edition.

The T20 World Cup is nearing its commencement. The eighth edition of the marquee tournament will be held in Australia for the first time, from October-Novamber and will be played in the same format as the 2021 edition. Aaron Finch-led Australia will not only be the hosts but also start as the defending champions after the Men in Yellow won their maiden T20 WC trophy last year, beating New Zealand in a one-sided Trans-Tasman battle in Dubai. ALSO READ | WI vs IND: Shikhar Dhawan-led India on cusp of attaining MASSIVE feat in 3rd ODI in Trinidad Ahead of the showpiece event Down Under, former Aussie captain and two-time ODI World Cup-winning skipper Ricky Ponting made a bold claim. He feels Rohit Sharma-led India will enter the tournament final but lose to Australia in the summit clash. "I think India and Australia will be the two playing in the final and I will just have to say that Australia will beat them in the final. The reigning champions have got home conditions and that was one thing that made Australia's win in the last World Cup, not remarkable, but that little bit sweeter for them," Ponting said on ICC Review. ALSO READ | 'Fantastic option': Former Pakistan cricketer backs young Indian player for T20 WC & Asia Cup squads Ponting, the Delhi Capitals (DC) head coach, is quite optimistic of his team's chances after they did very well in the last edition, which was held in challenging conditions -- in the UAE -- for the Aussies. "The fact that a lot of people, me included, thought when they went to UAE, the conditions that they were going to have to face on the back of the IPL, I thought the conditions might have been the thing that might not have allowed them to win it. But they found a way," Ponting added. Australia and India are placed in different groups in the Super 12 round. Will they meet each other in the finale? Only time will tell...

India, Pakistan or England! Ricky Ponting names who Australia will meet in 2022 T20 World Cup final

From MS Dhoni to Aaron Finch: Captains to have won T20 World Cup

India are set to&nbsp;host South Africa and&nbsp;Australia for three T20Is each before heading to the forthcoming T20 World Cup, to be held in Australia from October-November. BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly&nbsp;confirmed the development&nbsp;after the board's Apex Council on Thursday (July 21).

Virat Kohli-led India had a disastrous campaign in last year's T20 World Cup, held in the UAE. Hence, the board is keen to leave no stone unturned this time around to ensure Men in Blue's success in the upcoming showpiece event Down Under. Hence, two more home series have been confirmed now in the shortest format in the run-up to the marquee tournament.

"We will host SA and Australia for three T20Is each before going for the T20 World Cup. South Africa will come to India after concluding their ongoing England tour (in September). All those venues which didn’t get to stage a game against SA- Ranchi, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Indore, Mohali- will host T20Is against SA and Australia,” Ganguly told the media.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/how-should-kohli-tackle-off-stump-line-bowling-ex-india-captain-urges-batter-to-learn-from-tendulkar-499750">How should Kohli tackle off-stump line bowling? Ex-India captain urges batter to learn from Tendulkar</a>

The two T20I series will be held in September-October -- after the 2022 Asia Cup (also to be held in the shortest format) in the UAE -- whereas the final dates and venues will be revealed later.&nbsp;

The Indian team had hosted South Africa in five T20Is in early June, soon after the end of IPL 2022. The series ended in a 2-2 stalemate. They will like to beat the Proteas this time around and also get the better of the World T20 champions Australia before leaving the country for the eighth edition of the T20 WC.

India are set to host South Africa and Australia for three T20Is each before heading to the forthcoming T20 World Cup, to be held in Australia from October-November.

India are set to host South Africa and Australia for three T20Is each before heading to the forthcoming T20 World Cup, to be held in Australia from October-November. BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly confirmed the development after the board's Apex Council on Thursday (July 21). Virat Kohli-led India had a disastrous campaign in last year's T20 World Cup, held in the UAE. Hence, the board is keen to leave no stone unturned this time around to ensure Men in Blue's success in the upcoming showpiece event Down Under. Hence, two more home series have been confirmed now in the shortest format in the run-up to the marquee tournament. "We will host SA and Australia for three T20Is each before going for the T20 World Cup. South Africa will come to India after concluding their ongoing England tour (in September). All those venues which didn’t get to stage a game against SA- Ranchi, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Indore, Mohali- will host T20Is against SA and Australia,” Ganguly told the media. ALSO READ | How should Kohli tackle off-stump line bowling? Ex-India captain urges batter to learn from Tendulkar The two T20I series will be held in September-October -- after the 2022 Asia Cup (also to be held in the shortest format) in the UAE -- whereas the final dates and venues will be revealed later. The Indian team had hosted South Africa in five T20Is in early June, soon after the end of IPL 2022. The series ended in a 2-2 stalemate. They will like to beat the Proteas this time around and also get the better of the World T20 champions Australia before leaving the country for the eighth edition of the T20 WC.

India to host South Africa, Australia for three T20Is each prior to T20 World Cup, reveals Sourav Ganguly

Dinesh Karthik's splendid run in IPL 2022 revived his career as the veteran cricketer made a comeback into the national side during the India-South Africa home T20Is, in early June. Since then, Karthik has played some vital knocks versus the Proteas and during the series opener of the England T20Is, in Southampton.

Rishabh Pant, on the other hand, had a decent IPL 15 but failed miserably in the following SA T20Is. To date, he hasn't made big contributions in the shortest format, however, his&nbsp;heroics in India's recently-concluded England ODIs keeps him in the reckoning to be in the Men in Blue squad for the 2022 T20 World Cup (T20 WC), to be held in Australia later this year.

When Ricky Ponting -- coach of Pant-led Delhi Capitals (DC) -- was asked to name India's&nbsp;wicketkeeper for the eighth edition of T20 WC, he gave an interesting reply.&nbsp;

"We have seen what Rishabh is capable of in 50-over cricket and I know absolutely what he is capable of in the T20 game. Dinesh Karthik has had his best IPL ever just very recently ... and I would be trying to find every possible way to have both of those guys in my team. Rishabh to bat, in that three-four-five range, and have Dinesh and maybe Hardik Pandya... if you have those guys finishing for you, well that batting line-up looks very, very dangerous," Ponting shared his views on The ICC Review Show.

<section>
ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shoaib-akhtar-urges-rishabh-pant-to-lose-weight-feels-youngster-can-become-a-model-earn-crores-499384">Shoaib Akhtar urges Rishabh Pant to lose weight, feels youngster can 'become a model &amp; earn crores'</a>

For the unversed, the keeper's slot is a four-way race with Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson also in the reckoning. Thus, the Rohit Sharma-Rahul Dravid-led team management have a lot to think about while finalising their line-up for the forthcoming marquee event Down Under.

Pant can be slotted in the middle order whereas Ishan can be in the top three and DK is likely to be the finisher, along with Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja. Nonetheless, it will certainly not&nbsp;be a cakewalk for the team management in choosing the final T20 WC squad due to&nbsp;problems of plenty.
</section>

Dinesh Karthik's splendid run in IPL 2022 revived his career as the veteran cricketer made a comeback into the national side during the India-South Africa home T20Is, in early June.

Dinesh Karthik's splendid run in IPL 2022 revived his career as the veteran cricketer made a comeback into the national side during the India-South Africa home T20Is, in early June. Since then, Karthik has played some vital knocks versus the Proteas and during the series opener of the England T20Is, in Southampton. Rishabh Pant, on the other hand, had a decent IPL 15 but failed miserably in the following SA T20Is. To date, he hasn't made big contributions in the shortest format, however, his heroics in India's recently-concluded England ODIs keeps him in the reckoning to be in the Men in Blue squad for the 2022 T20 World Cup (T20 WC), to be held in Australia later this year. When Ricky Ponting -- coach of Pant-led Delhi Capitals (DC) -- was asked to name India's wicketkeeper for the eighth edition of T20 WC, he gave an interesting reply. "We have seen what Rishabh is capable of in 50-over cricket and I know absolutely what he is capable of in the T20 game. Dinesh Karthik has had his best IPL ever just very recently ... and I would be trying to find every possible way to have both of those guys in my team. Rishabh to bat, in that three-four-five range, and have Dinesh and maybe Hardik Pandya... if you have those guys finishing for you, well that batting line-up looks very, very dangerous," Ponting shared his views on The ICC Review Show. ALSO READ | Shoaib Akhtar urges Rishabh Pant to lose weight, feels youngster can 'become a model & earn crores' For the unversed, the keeper's slot is a four-way race with Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson also in the reckoning. Thus, the Rohit Sharma-Rahul Dravid-led team management have a lot to think about while finalising their line-up for the forthcoming marquee event Down Under. Pant can be slotted in the middle order whereas Ishan can be in the top three and DK is likely to be the finisher, along with Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja. Nonetheless, it will certainly not be a cakewalk for the team management in choosing the final T20 WC squad due to problems of plenty.

Pant or Karthik: Ricky Ponting names his choice for India's wicketkeeper's slot for 2022 T20 WC

Team India is set to play West Indies in three ODIs and five T20Is, in the Caribbean island, with the tour opener to take place on Friday (July 22). In Rohit Sharma's absence, Shikhar Dhawan will take charge of the ODI side whereas Hitman will reclaim his position during the five T20Is.

In the year 2022, India have had several captains such as Rohit, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, and Jasprit Bumrah whereas Dhawan will also join the list, having already captained a second-stringed side during the Sri Lanka tour last year. Ahead of the WI series, former New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris feels Shreyas Iyer is also a future captaincy candidate provided he cashes in on his opportunities and gets rid of his short-ball struggles.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pant-or-karthik-ricky-ponting-names-his-choice-for-indias-wicketkeepers-slot-for-2022-t20-wc-499428">Pant or Karthik: Ricky Ponting names his choice for India's wicketkeeper's slot for 2022 T20 WC</a>

Styris agreed&nbsp;that the forthcoming WI tour can be a do-or-die condition for Iyer, who hasn't done anything extraordinary since his return in India colours after IPL 2022. The New Zealander also&nbsp;termed the star batter as a captaincy choice and told Sports 18, "One hundred percent, what I really like about Shreyas Iyer is the leadership quality that he possesses. I think he is a real possibility to be a captain as well for India. For that reason, I would like to see him in and even given more and more opportunities around this squad."

<section>
"What I don't like is that there is no secret about Shreyas Iyer now. He has real problems with the short ball. I think you will see a lot of teams attack him with their quick bowlers, attack him at the body with the bouncers, under the armpit, if you like, because I am not sure he has found a way," the former cricketer added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-shikhar-dhawan-to-jasprit-bumrah-7-captains-rahul-dravid-has-worked-with-as-indias-head-coach-498546">From Shikhar Dhawan to Jasprit Bumrah: 7 captains Rahul Dravid has worked with as India's head coach</a>

Iyer is part of India's ODI and T20I squad for the WI tour and will be eager to come up with consistent performances to cement his place in the white-ball setup. With the T20 World Cup to be held later this year, in Australia, the middle-order batter needs to be on his toes or he will miss being part of the squad for the trip Down Under.
</section>

Team India is set to play West Indies in three ODIs and five T20Is, in the Caribbean island, with the tour opener to take place on Friday (July 22). In Rohit Sharma's absence, Shikhar Dhawan will take charge of the ODI side whereas Hitman will reclaim his position during the five T20Is.

Team India is set to play West Indies in three ODIs and five T20Is, in the Caribbean island, with the tour opener to take place on Friday (July 22). In Rohit Sharma's absence, Shikhar Dhawan will take charge of the ODI side whereas Hitman will reclaim his position during the five T20Is. In the year 2022, India have had several captains such as Rohit, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, and Jasprit Bumrah whereas Dhawan will also join the list, having already captained a second-stringed side during the Sri Lanka tour last year. Ahead of the WI series, former New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris feels Shreyas Iyer is also a future captaincy candidate provided he cashes in on his opportunities and gets rid of his short-ball struggles. ALSO READ | Pant or Karthik: Ricky Ponting names his choice for India's wicketkeeper's slot for 2022 T20 WC Styris agreed that the forthcoming WI tour can be a do-or-die condition for Iyer, who hasn't done anything extraordinary since his return in India colours after IPL 2022. The New Zealander also termed the star batter as a captaincy choice and told Sports 18, "One hundred percent, what I really like about Shreyas Iyer is the leadership quality that he possesses. I think he is a real possibility to be a captain as well for India. For that reason, I would like to see him in and even given more and more opportunities around this squad." "What I don't like is that there is no secret about Shreyas Iyer now. He has real problems with the short ball. I think you will see a lot of teams attack him with their quick bowlers, attack him at the body with the bouncers, under the armpit, if you like, because I am not sure he has found a way," the former cricketer added. ALSO READ | From Shikhar Dhawan to Jasprit Bumrah: 7 captains Rahul Dravid has worked with as India's head coach Iyer is part of India's ODI and T20I squad for the WI tour and will be eager to come up with consistent performances to cement his place in the white-ball setup. With the T20 World Cup to be held later this year, in Australia, the middle-order batter needs to be on his toes or he will miss being part of the squad for the trip Down Under.

Not Pandya, Pant or Rahul! Former NZ all-rounder backs India's star player as future captaincy candidate

It isn't an unknown fact that Team India have not been able to win an ICC event since 2013. Their last major trophy came during the 2013 Champions Trophy under talismanic leader MS Dhoni. Since then, India have been knocked out in the semi-finals in as many as three ICC events (2015 ODI World Cup, 2016 T20 World Cup, 2019 ODI World Cup), lost two mega finals (2014 T20 World Cup and 2017 Champions Trophy) and bowed out of the league stage in the 2021 T20 World Cup.

From MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli was given the charge of the team across formats in early 2017. Under him, India did well in every ICC event, barring last year's showpiece event in the UAE, but failed to return with the coveted title. Former and tainted India pacer S Sreesanth has now claimed that India would have won three World Cups had he been part of Kohli-led Men in Blue.

“If I would have been a part of the team under Virat’s captaincy, India would have won the World Cup in 2015, 2019 &amp; 2021," the former fast bowler made the big claim during a live chat with&nbsp;fans as part of the new season of CricChat on the ShareChat Audio Chatroom.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-shikhar-dhawan-to-jasprit-bumrah-7-captains-rahul-dravid-has-worked-with-as-indias-head-coach-498546">From Shikhar Dhawan to Jasprit Bumrah: 7 captains Rahul Dravid has worked with as India's head coach</a>

Further, Sreesanth also stressed how&nbsp;practicing bowling yorkers made him master it as a fast bowler. "It is important to visualize while playing and small regions do not make any difference. Rather it is better to learn such tricks here, given there are a few distractions. My coach taught me how to throw Yorkers with tennis balls. If you ask Bumrah, he’ll say that it is easy too,” Sreesanth opined.

<section>
Sreesanth represented India in&nbsp;27 Tests and 53 ODIs, claiming&nbsp;87 and 75 wickets respectively, and was part of the national side's 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup winning campaigns. Recalling being part of the ODI World&nbsp;Cup triumph, Sreesanth shared how emotional Sachin Tendulkar was after Dhoni &amp; Co.'s famous triumph. “We won that World Cup for Sachin Tendulkar,” he added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/just-like-dhoni-yuvraj-gavaskar-lauds-pant-pandya-compares-duo-with-legendary-indian-batting-pair-498733">'Just like Dhoni &amp; Yuvraj...: Gavaskar lauds Pant-Pandya, compares duo with legendary Indian batting pair</a>

Sreesanth announced his international retirement early this year, in March. Back then, he stated, "It has been an honor to represent my family, my teammates, and the people of India. Nd everyone who loves the game. With much sadness but without regret, I say this with a heavy heart: I am retiring from the Indian domestic (first class and all formats) cricket."

The former pacer's career turned upside down after he got involved in the IPL spot-fixing scandal. While he saw his ban getting over in 2020, he never played an IPL game or represented India after that. His last game for the national side came in 2013.
</section>

It isn't an unknown fact that Team India have not been able to win an ICC event since 2013. Their last major trophy came during the 2013 Champions Trophy under talismanic leader MS Dhoni.

It isn't an unknown fact that Team India have not been able to win an ICC event since 2013. Their last major trophy came during the 2013 Champions Trophy under talismanic leader MS Dhoni. Since then, India have been knocked out in the semi-finals in as many as three ICC events (2015 ODI World Cup, 2016 T20 World Cup, 2019 ODI World Cup), lost two mega finals (2014 T20 World Cup and 2017 Champions Trophy) and bowed out of the league stage in the 2021 T20 World Cup. From MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli was given the charge of the team across formats in early 2017. Under him, India did well in every ICC event, barring last year's showpiece event in the UAE, but failed to return with the coveted title. Former and tainted India pacer S Sreesanth has now claimed that India would have won three World Cups had he been part of Kohli-led Men in Blue. “If I would have been a part of the team under Virat’s captaincy, India would have won the World Cup in 2015, 2019 & 2021," the former fast bowler made the big claim during a live chat with fans as part of the new season of CricChat on the ShareChat Audio Chatroom. ALSO READ | From Shikhar Dhawan to Jasprit Bumrah: 7 captains Rahul Dravid has worked with as India's head coach Further, Sreesanth also stressed how practicing bowling yorkers made him master it as a fast bowler. "It is important to visualize while playing and small regions do not make any difference. Rather it is better to learn such tricks here, given there are a few distractions. My coach taught me how to throw Yorkers with tennis balls. If you ask Bumrah, he’ll say that it is easy too,” Sreesanth opined. Sreesanth represented India in 27 Tests and 53 ODIs, claiming 87 and 75 wickets respectively, and was part of the national side's 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup winning campaigns. Recalling being part of the ODI World Cup triumph, Sreesanth shared how emotional Sachin Tendulkar was after Dhoni & Co.'s famous triumph. “We won that World Cup for Sachin Tendulkar,” he added. ALSO READ | 'Just like Dhoni & Yuvraj...: Gavaskar lauds Pant-Pandya, compares duo with legendary Indian batting pair Sreesanth announced his international retirement early this year, in March. Back then, he stated, "It has been an honor to represent my family, my teammates, and the people of India. Nd everyone who loves the game. With much sadness but without regret, I say this with a heavy heart: I am retiring from the Indian domestic (first class and all formats) cricket." The former pacer's career turned upside down after he got involved in the IPL spot-fixing scandal. While he saw his ban getting over in 2020, he never played an IPL game or represented India after that. His last game for the national side came in 2013.

'India would've won 3 World Cups if I played in Virat Kohli-led team' : S Sreesanth makes big claim

Hosts Zimbabwe and the Netherlands filled the last two places for the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia by winning their qualifying tournament semi-finals in Bulawayo on Friday.

Zimbabwe beat Papua New Guinea by 27 runs after posting 199-5 in 20 overs, then restricting their opponents to 172-8. The Netherlands defeated the United States by seven wickets. Replying to an American total of 138 in 19.4 overs, the Dutch scored 139-3 with six balls to spare.

Hosts Zimbabwe and the Netherlands filled the last two places for the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia by winning their qualifying tournament semi-finals in Bulawayo on Friday.

Hosts Zimbabwe and the Netherlands filled the last two places for the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia by winning their qualifying tournament semi-finals in Bulawayo on Friday. Zimbabwe beat Papua New Guinea by 27 runs after posting 199-5 in 20 overs, then restricting their opponents to 172-8. The Netherlands defeated the United States by seven wickets. Replying to an American total of 138 in 19.4 overs, the Dutch scored 139-3 with six balls to spare.

T20 World Cup: Zimbabwe, Netherlands qualify for marquee event Down Under

Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria has questioned the Indian team management for persisting with an underperforming Virat Kohli. While Kohli's century-drought continues since late 2019, he has failed to even cross the fifty-run mark in India's ongoing tour of England.

During the one-off Test in Edgbaston, Kohli had scores of 11 and 20. While he was rested for the three-match T20I series opener, he got favoured over in-form Deepak Hooda in the remaining two games but only ended with 12 runs overall. After missing the first ODI versus Jos Buttler &amp; Co., Kohli returned for Thursday's (July 14) second ODI but once again failed, scoring a 25-ball 16. Thus, questions are being raised on his form and also on why he is being rested for the West Indies T20Is -- in the Caribbean island -- despite poor form.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-why-is-it-happening-rohit-sharma-on-talks-regarding-under-fire-virat-kohli-497565">WATCH: 'Why is it happening?' - Rohit Sharma on talks regarding under-fire Virat Kohli</a>

Earlier, Kapil Dev had questioned Kohli's place. Now, Kaneria has joined the bandwagon and lashed out at the BCCI selection committee, headed by Chetan Sharma, and the Rahul Dravid-led team management for persisting with Kohli and not giving 'talented cricketers' such as Hooda, Suryakumar Yadav, etc. a longer rope.

"When world class off spinner Ashwin can be dropped then why not Virat where is Deepak Hooda why the selection committee and management playing with carriers of Indian talented cricketers. Who is the person playing Ludo with Indian and fans of Indian team, Arshdeep, Deepak Hooda and Surya needs to give them full confidence they are back bone of Indian Cricket," Kaneria said exclusively on the Koo app.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-has-got-to-find-his-way-and-bcci-chief-sourav-ganguly-reacts-to-virat-kohlis-poor-form-497616">'He has got to find his way and....' - BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly reacts to Virat Kohli's poor form</a>

After India lost the second ODI versus England, by 100 runs, captain Rohit Sharma backed under-fire Kohli when he was asked about the continous chatter regarding the star batter's lean patch.&nbsp;

"Why is it happening, I do not understand? Someone who has made so many runs is being questioned over his form. I don't understand this." He added, "Virat Kohli is such a great batsman. He has been playing for so many years and he has won so many matches for the team. He doesn't need any reassurance. You can see quality of player, form ups &amp; down in everyone's career. Look at how many runs he has scored &amp; centuries scored. Look at his averages. He won many matches for India. He is great Batsman."

Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria has questioned the Indian team management for persisting with an underperforming Virat Kohli. While Kohli's century-drought continues since late 2019, he has failed to even cross the fifty-run mark in India's ongoing tour of England.

Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria has questioned the Indian team management for persisting with an underperforming Virat Kohli. While Kohli's century-drought continues since late 2019, he has failed to even cross the fifty-run mark in India's ongoing tour of England. During the one-off Test in Edgbaston, Kohli had scores of 11 and 20. While he was rested for the three-match T20I series opener, he got favoured over in-form Deepak Hooda in the remaining two games but only ended with 12 runs overall. After missing the first ODI versus Jos Buttler & Co., Kohli returned for Thursday's (July 14) second ODI but once again failed, scoring a 25-ball 16. Thus, questions are being raised on his form and also on why he is being rested for the West Indies T20Is -- in the Caribbean island -- despite poor form. ALSO READ | WATCH: 'Why is it happening?' - Rohit Sharma on talks regarding under-fire Virat Kohli Earlier, Kapil Dev had questioned Kohli's place. Now, Kaneria has joined the bandwagon and lashed out at the BCCI selection committee, headed by Chetan Sharma, and the Rahul Dravid-led team management for persisting with Kohli and not giving 'talented cricketers' such as Hooda, Suryakumar Yadav, etc. a longer rope. "When world class off spinner Ashwin can be dropped then why not Virat where is Deepak Hooda why the selection committee and management playing with carriers of Indian talented cricketers. Who is the person playing Ludo with Indian and fans of Indian team, Arshdeep, Deepak Hooda and Surya needs to give them full confidence they are back bone of Indian Cricket," Kaneria said exclusively on the Koo app. ALSO READ | 'He has got to find his way and....' - BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly reacts to Virat Kohli's poor form After India lost the second ODI versus England, by 100 runs, captain Rohit Sharma backed under-fire Kohli when he was asked about the continous chatter regarding the star batter's lean patch. "Why is it happening, I do not understand? Someone who has made so many runs is being questioned over his form. I don't understand this." He added, "Virat Kohli is such a great batsman. He has been playing for so many years and he has won so many matches for the team. He doesn't need any reassurance. You can see quality of player, form ups & down in everyone's career. Look at how many runs he has scored & centuries scored. Look at his averages. He won many matches for India. He is great Batsman."

'Who is playing Ludo?': Former Pakistan spinner questions India's decision to play out-of-form Virat Kohli

Hardik Pandya has had a stellar time since IPL 2022. In the 15th IPL season, which saw him make a comeback at the competitive level after last year's T20 World Cup, Hardik returned with his best-ever tally as a batter (487 runs) and claimed eight scalps, including a match-winning three-fer in the season-finale as Gujarat Titans (GT) won their maiden championship on debut.

Hardik's stocks rose considerably after leading Gujarat to a historic title as captain. Making a comeback for India in the home T20Is versus South Africa, the all-rounder fulfilled both roles and was also Rishabh Pant's deputy. Further, he was appointed as the Indian captain during the second-stringed side's twin&nbsp;T20Is versus Ireland, in Dublin, which Men in Blue won 2-0. In the India-England T20Is, the 28-year-old scored his maiden fifty in the format. Hence, he is on a roll, however, question marks remain on his ability to bowl his full quota of overs in ODIs. So far, he has bowled regularly in T20Is, nonetheless, it remains to be seen if he can complete his full overs in the 50-over format.

In this regard, Hardik-led Gujarat franchise's head coach Ashish Nehra made an interesting remark. "Even Hardik won’t be able to answer that since you can plan but things don’t always fall into place. But so far so good. Hardik can be in any white ball team solely as a batter. On top of that, if he bowls, it will be a bonus. But you can’t keep him as your fifth bowler in T20 or 50 overs. He can only be your sixth bowler," Nehra was quoted as saying by Telegraph India.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-cant-be-dropped-straightaway-ashish-nehra-backs-under-fire-india-batter-amid-form-concerns-497041">Virat Kohli can't be dropped straightaway: Ashish Nehra backs under-fire India batter amid form concerns</a>

The 2011 ODI World Cup winner further&nbsp;added, "But looking at his fitness, you have to build it up slowly. He will not be going to the West Indies for ODIs, which is good in a way. When you are an out-and-out fast bowler, you don’t have a choice. You have to bowl, you have to be fit... But it’s not the case with Hardik. He has been doing well during the last 2-3 months."

Hardik bowled only four overs, conceding 22&nbsp;runs and being wicketless, in India's ODI series opener versus hosts England at The Oval, London. He is already among wickets in the ongoing second and penultimate ODI, on Thursday (July 14) at Lord's, and will slowly aim to regularly finish his full quota of overs in white-ball formats.

Hardik Pandya has had a stellar time since IPL 2022. In the 15th IPL season, which saw him make a comeback at the competitive level after last year's T20 World Cup, Hardik returned with his best-ever tally as a batter (487 runs) and claimed eight scalps, including a match-winning three-fer in the season-finale as Gujarat Titans (GT) won their maiden championship on debut.

Hardik Pandya has had a stellar time since IPL 2022. In the 15th IPL season, which saw him make a comeback at the competitive level after last year's T20 World Cup, Hardik returned with his best-ever tally as a batter (487 runs) and claimed eight scalps, including a match-winning three-fer in the season-finale as Gujarat Titans (GT) won their maiden championship on debut. Hardik's stocks rose considerably after leading Gujarat to a historic title as captain. Making a comeback for India in the home T20Is versus South Africa, the all-rounder fulfilled both roles and was also Rishabh Pant's deputy. Further, he was appointed as the Indian captain during the second-stringed side's twin T20Is versus Ireland, in Dublin, which Men in Blue won 2-0. In the India-England T20Is, the 28-year-old scored his maiden fifty in the format. Hence, he is on a roll, however, question marks remain on his ability to bowl his full quota of overs in ODIs. So far, he has bowled regularly in T20Is, nonetheless, it remains to be seen if he can complete his full overs in the 50-over format. In this regard, Hardik-led Gujarat franchise's head coach Ashish Nehra made an interesting remark. "Even Hardik won’t be able to answer that since you can plan but things don’t always fall into place. But so far so good. Hardik can be in any white ball team solely as a batter. On top of that, if he bowls, it will be a bonus. But you can’t keep him as your fifth bowler in T20 or 50 overs. He can only be your sixth bowler," Nehra was quoted as saying by Telegraph India. ALSO READ | Virat Kohli can't be dropped straightaway: Ashish Nehra backs under-fire India batter amid form concerns The 2011 ODI World Cup winner further added, "But looking at his fitness, you have to build it up slowly. He will not be going to the West Indies for ODIs, which is good in a way. When you are an out-and-out fast bowler, you don’t have a choice. You have to bowl, you have to be fit... But it’s not the case with Hardik. He has been doing well during the last 2-3 months." Hardik bowled only four overs, conceding 22 runs and being wicketless, in India's ODI series opener versus hosts England at The Oval, London. He is already among wickets in the ongoing second and penultimate ODI, on Thursday (July 14) at Lord's, and will slowly aim to regularly finish his full quota of overs in white-ball formats.

'Even he won’t......' - Ashish Nehra on whether Hardik Pandya can bowl 10 overs in ODIs

India were on a roll versus England in the three-match ODI series opener on Tuesday (July 12), winning the game by ten wickets with less than 50 overs being played overall. Rohit Sharma-led India opted to bowl first and bundled out Jos Buttler &amp; Co. for 110, their lowest ODI score versus the Men in Blue, as Jasprit Bumrah wreaked havoc with 6 for 19.&nbsp;

Later, Rohit (58-ball 76 not out) and Shikhar Dhawan's sedate 31 completed the formalities for India, scripting an easy win over the two-time ODI world champions as they go 1-0 up in the series. After the clash, former England captain Michael Vaughan lavished huge praise on Rohit &amp; Co., whom he believes should be on a roll and win all major titles in the coming years given their skillsets and talented players.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/jasprit-bumrah-reclaims-top-spot-among-bowlers-in-icc-odi-rankings-after-619-vs-england-496978">Jasprit Bumrah reclaims top spot among bowlers in ICC ODI Rankings after 6/19 vs England</a>

"Conditions will be different in a year and a half's time (for the ODI World Cup) but India have just got to get on a roll in white-ball cricket. They've just got the build that momentum, they've done that in the T20 series in the manner that they've played. We talk about aggression, they were aggressive with the ball today, and they were aggressive in the field. That's what you've got to do when you've things going in your favour, you've got to blow teams away. England are an outstanding team, so that should give India a lot of confidence. I've said before, this Indian one-day team for long haven't gotten close to winning anything for a long period of time. They should be there or there about every single Champions Trophy, T20 World Cup, and ODI World Cup," Vaughan said on Cricbuzz.

"This Indian group of white-ball experts that have been built on the back of IPL, should be pushing all the way in all conditions world. Not just at home next year. They should be able to arrive in Australia in a few months' time as one of the clear favourites to win that tournament. They've certainly got enough skill," he added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/eng-vs-ind-after-missing-series-opener-virat-kohli-likely-to-skip-2nd-odi-with-injury-concerns-report-496967">ENG vs IND: After missing series opener, Virat Kohli likely to skip 2nd ODI with injury concerns - Report</a>

For the unversed, India have not won an ICC title since 2013. Last year, India bowed out of the 2021 T20 World Cup in the group stage and, hence, will be eager to turn the tides this time around and go onto win the coveted title; ending their nine-year-long ICC-title drought.

India were on a roll versus England in the three-match ODI series opener on Tuesday (July 12), winning the game by ten wickets with less than 50 overs being played overall.

India were on a roll versus England in the three-match ODI series opener on Tuesday (July 12), winning the game by ten wickets with less than 50 overs being played overall. Rohit Sharma-led India opted to bowl first and bundled out Jos Buttler & Co. for 110, their lowest ODI score versus the Men in Blue, as Jasprit Bumrah wreaked havoc with 6 for 19. Later, Rohit (58-ball 76 not out) and Shikhar Dhawan's sedate 31 completed the formalities for India, scripting an easy win over the two-time ODI world champions as they go 1-0 up in the series. After the clash, former England captain Michael Vaughan lavished huge praise on Rohit & Co., whom he believes should be on a roll and win all major titles in the coming years given their skillsets and talented players. ALSO READ | Jasprit Bumrah reclaims top spot among bowlers in ICC ODI Rankings after 6/19 vs England "Conditions will be different in a year and a half's time (for the ODI World Cup) but India have just got to get on a roll in white-ball cricket. They've just got the build that momentum, they've done that in the T20 series in the manner that they've played. We talk about aggression, they were aggressive with the ball today, and they were aggressive in the field. That's what you've got to do when you've things going in your favour, you've got to blow teams away. England are an outstanding team, so that should give India a lot of confidence. I've said before, this Indian one-day team for long haven't gotten close to winning anything for a long period of time. They should be there or there about every single Champions Trophy, T20 World Cup, and ODI World Cup," Vaughan said on Cricbuzz. "This Indian group of white-ball experts that have been built on the back of IPL, should be pushing all the way in all conditions world. Not just at home next year. They should be able to arrive in Australia in a few months' time as one of the clear favourites to win that tournament. They've certainly got enough skill," he added. ALSO READ | ENG vs IND: After missing series opener, Virat Kohli likely to skip 2nd ODI with injury concerns - Report For the unversed, India have not won an ICC title since 2013. Last year, India bowed out of the 2021 T20 World Cup in the group stage and, hence, will be eager to turn the tides this time around and go onto win the coveted title; ending their nine-year-long ICC-title drought.

Team India should win all ODI, T20I World Cups, and Champions Trophy: Michael Vaughan lauds Rohit & Co.

Virat Kohli's form remains a cause of concern and a huge talking point in the Indian cricket fraternity. With the 2022 T20 World Cup right around the corner, many former cricketers and experts have shared their views regarding King Kohli, who has struggled to be at his usual best since the start of IPL 2022 edition and his century-drought continues since late 2019.&nbsp;

After the conclusion of the India-England T20Is, which India won 2-1, former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar joined the bandwagon and commented on Kohli's form. While some have even questioned his place in the T20I line-up, Gavaskar came in Kohli's defence.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/some-of-them-are-sitting-out-sehwag-feels-india-need-to-play-best-available-players-ahead-of-t20-wc-496414">'Some of them are sitting out': Sehwag feels India need to play 'best available players' ahead of T20 WC</a>

"I don't understand when Rohit Sharma does not score runs, no one talks about it. When other batters don't score runs, no one talks about it. Form is temporary and class is permanent. You are only asking about one player. The kind of template Team India has started, players will be unsuccessful," he told on Sports Tak. Further, he added, "We have a good selection committee. There are still two months for the team to be announced and even the Asia Cup is left. You can see the form there and choose your team. Give it some time."

In the England T20Is, Kohli was given rest for the series opener -- which commenced after a one-day break post the Edgbaston Test -- and he returned to the playing XI for the remaining two matches. However, the 33-year-old managed only scores of 1 and 11. It will be interesting to see if Kohli is part of India's five T20Is versus West Indies, in the Caribbean island, which will kick off during the end of July.&nbsp;

Virat Kohli's form remains a cause of concern and a huge talking point in the Indian cricket fraternity. With the 2022 T20 World Cup right around the corner, many former cricketers and experts have shared their views regarding King Kohli, who has struggled to be at his usual best since the start of IPL 2022 edition and his century-drought continues since late 2019.

Virat Kohli's form remains a cause of concern and a huge talking point in the Indian cricket fraternity. With the 2022 T20 World Cup right around the corner, many former cricketers and experts have shared their views regarding King Kohli, who has struggled to be at his usual best since the start of IPL 2022 edition and his century-drought continues since late 2019. After the conclusion of the India-England T20Is, which India won 2-1, former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar joined the bandwagon and commented on Kohli's form. While some have even questioned his place in the T20I line-up, Gavaskar came in Kohli's defence. ALSO READ | 'Some of them are sitting out': Sehwag feels India need to play 'best available players' ahead of T20 WC "I don't understand when Rohit Sharma does not score runs, no one talks about it. When other batters don't score runs, no one talks about it. Form is temporary and class is permanent. You are only asking about one player. The kind of template Team India has started, players will be unsuccessful," he told on Sports Tak. Further, he added, "We have a good selection committee. There are still two months for the team to be announced and even the Asia Cup is left. You can see the form there and choose your team. Give it some time." In the England T20Is, Kohli was given rest for the series opener -- which commenced after a one-day break post the Edgbaston Test -- and he returned to the playing XI for the remaining two matches. However, the 33-year-old managed only scores of 1 and 11. It will be interesting to see if Kohli is part of India's five T20Is versus West Indies, in the Caribbean island, which will kick off during the end of July.

'When Rohit does not score runs, no one talks about it' - Sunil Gavaskar comes in defence of Virat Kohli

Rohit Sharma-led India missed a golden opportunity to inflict a series whitewash over England in the three T20Is. After taking an unassailable 2-0 lead versus Jos Buttler &amp; Co., Rohit-led India aimed for a 3-0 scoreline but lost the final encounter by 17 runs despite Suryakumar Yadav's magnificent 117.&nbsp;

In pursuit of a mammoth 216-run chase, India fell short and were restricted for 198-8. After the clash, former Indian opener-turned-expert Aakash Chopra lashed out at Indian team management's selection for the final encounter, where Shreyas Iyer was given a chance and in-form batter Deepak Hooda continued to warm the bench. For the unversed, Hooda has scored a hundred during the Ireland T20Is and scored a quickire 17-ball 33 in the England series opener before other players were preferred over him.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said, "I was saying - don't make any change, go with the same team. What difference does it make? But that did not happen. What I found slightly baffling is that I understand that Shreyas Iyer is probably ahead of Deepak Hooda in the pecking order, although I am not ready to agree that he is ahead in the pecking order."

<section>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-can-single-handedly-win-you-world-cups-former-india-selector-backs-under-fire-virat-kohli-496323">He can single-handedly win you World Cups: Former India selector backs under-fire Virat Kohli</a>

"Why he is ahead, I have got no idea. I feel Deepak Hooda should be slightly ahead in this list. If you were resting Hardik Pandya, then why not Deepak Hooda? There was a chance to play him which you have missed."

While Iyer was involved in a 119-run fourth-wicket stand with centurion SKY, he didn't have the best of outing as the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain returned with a 23-ball 28 in a tall run-chase. It will be interesting to see if Iyer continues to good a run in the T20I line-up or the team management accomodates Hooda in place of one of the middle-order batters.
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Rohit Sharma-led India missed a golden opportunity to inflict a series whitewash over England in the three T20Is. After taking an unassailable 2-0 lead versus Jos Buttler & Co.

Rohit Sharma-led India missed a golden opportunity to inflict a series whitewash over England in the three T20Is. After taking an unassailable 2-0 lead versus Jos Buttler & Co., Rohit-led India aimed for a 3-0 scoreline but lost the final encounter by 17 runs despite Suryakumar Yadav's magnificent 117. In pursuit of a mammoth 216-run chase, India fell short and were restricted for 198-8. After the clash, former Indian opener-turned-expert Aakash Chopra lashed out at Indian team management's selection for the final encounter, where Shreyas Iyer was given a chance and in-form batter Deepak Hooda continued to warm the bench. For the unversed, Hooda has scored a hundred during the Ireland T20Is and scored a quickire 17-ball 33 in the England series opener before other players were preferred over him. In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said, "I was saying - don't make any change, go with the same team. What difference does it make? But that did not happen. What I found slightly baffling is that I understand that Shreyas Iyer is probably ahead of Deepak Hooda in the pecking order, although I am not ready to agree that he is ahead in the pecking order." ALSO READ | He can single-handedly win you World Cups: Former India selector backs under-fire Virat Kohli "Why he is ahead, I have got no idea. I feel Deepak Hooda should be slightly ahead in this list. If you were resting Hardik Pandya, then why not Deepak Hooda? There was a chance to play him which you have missed." While Iyer was involved in a 119-run fourth-wicket stand with centurion SKY, he didn't have the best of outing as the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain returned with a 23-ball 28 in a tall run-chase. It will be interesting to see if Iyer continues to good a run in the T20I line-up or the team management accomodates Hooda in place of one of the middle-order batters.

'What I found slightly baffling is....' - Aakash Chopra questions India's selection for 3rd T20I vs England

All eyes are now on the 2022 T20 World Cup. All teams have dived into the preparations and will go all-out against each other in the showpiece event, which is set to be held in Australia from October-November. In the last edition, held in the UAE, Pakistan broke their World Cup jinx versus India and beat them comfortably, by ten wickets, to send their fans into a frenzy.

Ahead of India and Pakistan's much-awaited face-off in the 2022 edition, Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar has opened up on the much-anticipated clash and made a big claim.

"India will come up with proper planning this time around. It will not be easy for Pakistan to beat India in T20 WC this time. Predicting match results now is quite difficult but Pakistan should bowl second as [the] pitch in Melbourne offers bounce to fast bowlers,” Akhtar was quoted as saying by&nbsp;Cricket Pakistan.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-can-single-handedly-win-you-world-cups-former-india-selector-backs-under-fire-virat-kohli-496323">He can single-handedly win you World Cups: Former India selector backs under-fire Virat Kohli</a>

In the 2021 edition, Virat Kohli-led India were blown away by Babar Azam &amp; Co. courtesy of Shaheen Afridi's three-fer. Opting to bowl first, in Dubai, Pakistan restricted India to 158-7 before openers Babar and Md Rizwan's unbroken stand propelled the Men in Green to an easy ten-wicket win.&nbsp;

This time around, India will enter the marquee event with Rohit Sharma as the captain, who took over from Kohli last year. The Men in Blue have adopted an aggressive approach with the bat and will like to settle scores with Pakistan in the forthcoming tournament. Before the T20 WC, both sides will also meet in the Asia Cup 2022.

All eyes are now on the 2022 T20 World Cup. All teams have dived into the preparations and will go all-out against each other in the showpiece event, which is set to be held in Australia from October-November.

All eyes are now on the 2022 T20 World Cup. All teams have dived into the preparations and will go all-out against each other in the showpiece event, which is set to be held in Australia from October-November. In the last edition, held in the UAE, Pakistan broke their World Cup jinx versus India and beat them comfortably, by ten wickets, to send their fans into a frenzy. Ahead of India and Pakistan's much-awaited face-off in the 2022 edition, Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar has opened up on the much-anticipated clash and made a big claim. "India will come up with proper planning this time around. It will not be easy for Pakistan to beat India in T20 WC this time. Predicting match results now is quite difficult but Pakistan should bowl second as [the] pitch in Melbourne offers bounce to fast bowlers,” Akhtar was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan. ALSO READ | He can single-handedly win you World Cups: Former India selector backs under-fire Virat Kohli In the 2021 edition, Virat Kohli-led India were blown away by Babar Azam & Co. courtesy of Shaheen Afridi's three-fer. Opting to bowl first, in Dubai, Pakistan restricted India to 158-7 before openers Babar and Md Rizwan's unbroken stand propelled the Men in Green to an easy ten-wicket win. This time around, India will enter the marquee event with Rohit Sharma as the captain, who took over from Kohli last year. The Men in Blue have adopted an aggressive approach with the bat and will like to settle scores with Pakistan in the forthcoming tournament. Before the T20 WC, both sides will also meet in the Asia Cup 2022.

'It will not be easy': Shoaib Akhtar explains why Pakistan might not be able to beat India in T20 WC 2022

Virat Kohli's form remains a cause of concern and a big talking point in the Indian cricket fraternity. In the third and final T20I between India and England, Kohli started off aggressively -- keeping up with India's newly-found aggressive approach in the format -- before falling for a 6-ball 11. Thus, big knocks continue to evade Kohli and talks have started doing the rounds that Kohli can be omitted from India's T20 World Cup squad.

With the Indian selectors set to announce the T20I&nbsp;squad for the upcoming West Indies series, in the Caribbean island, reports suggest that&nbsp;Kohli might be rested for the series. Amid this, former Indian selector Sarandeep Singh feels Kohli needs to play more to regain form and made a big claim on the ex-Indian skipper.

"What are the selectors doing to understand where is his batting going wrong? He shouldn't be dropped. Everybody knows his capabilities and his potential. He can single-handedly win you World Cups," Singh told Karishma Singh of Times Now.

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"Why is he being given rest then? What is this illogical way of selecting players? He plays one series then rest and then he plays another series. Make him play if he is not performing, that's the only way for him coming back to form," he added.

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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rohit-sharma-defends-virat-kohli-reponds-to-his-critics-they-dont-know-whats-going-on-inside-496254">Rohit Sharma defends Virat Kohli, responds to his critics: 'They don't know what's going on inside'</a>

After India lost the third and final T20I versus England by 17 runs, to win the series 2-1, skipper Rohit Sharma also backed Kohli to come good soon. Recently, Kapil Dev had suggested that Kohli should be dropped from the T20I line-up, to which Rohit said,&nbsp;"He is watching the game from outside and does not know what is happening inside. We have our thought process. We build our team and behind this, there is a lot of thinking. We back the boys and give them opportunities. So, these things you do not get to know from outside. So, whatever is happening outside is not important but what is happening inside is more important for us," Sharma said during a post-match press conference.

"If you talk about form then everyone goes through ups and downs. The player's quality does not get affected. So, we should keep these things in our minds. When a player is doing well for so many years, then one or two bad series does not make him a bad player. We should not overlook his past performances. We who are in the team know the importance of the player. They have got all the right to talk about it but it does not matter for us too much," he added.
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Virat Kohli's form remains a cause of concern and a big talking point in the Indian cricket fraternity. In the third and final T20I between India and England, Kohli started off aggressively -- keeping up with India's newly-found aggressive approach in the format -- before falling for a 6-ball 11.

Virat Kohli's form remains a cause of concern and a big talking point in the Indian cricket fraternity. In the third and final T20I between India and England, Kohli started off aggressively -- keeping up with India's newly-found aggressive approach in the format -- before falling for a 6-ball 11. Thus, big knocks continue to evade Kohli and talks have started doing the rounds that Kohli can be omitted from India's T20 World Cup squad. With the Indian selectors set to announce the T20I squad for the upcoming West Indies series, in the Caribbean island, reports suggest that Kohli might be rested for the series. Amid this, former Indian selector Sarandeep Singh feels Kohli needs to play more to regain form and made a big claim on the ex-Indian skipper. "What are the selectors doing to understand where is his batting going wrong? He shouldn't be dropped. Everybody knows his capabilities and his potential. He can single-handedly win you World Cups," Singh told Karishma Singh of Times Now. "Why is he being given rest then? What is this illogical way of selecting players? He plays one series then rest and then he plays another series. Make him play if he is not performing, that's the only way for him coming back to form," he added. ALSO READ | Rohit Sharma defends Virat Kohli, responds to his critics: 'They don't know what's going on inside' After India lost the third and final T20I versus England by 17 runs, to win the series 2-1, skipper Rohit Sharma also backed Kohli to come good soon. Recently, Kapil Dev had suggested that Kohli should be dropped from the T20I line-up, to which Rohit said, "He is watching the game from outside and does not know what is happening inside. We have our thought process. We build our team and behind this, there is a lot of thinking. We back the boys and give them opportunities. So, these things you do not get to know from outside. So, whatever is happening outside is not important but what is happening inside is more important for us," Sharma said during a post-match press conference. "If you talk about form then everyone goes through ups and downs. The player's quality does not get affected. So, we should keep these things in our minds. When a player is doing well for so many years, then one or two bad series does not make him a bad player. We should not overlook his past performances. We who are in the team know the importance of the player. They have got all the right to talk about it but it does not matter for us too much," he added.

He can single-handedly win you World Cups: Former India selector backs under-fire Virat Kohli

India started their white-ball series versus England on a winning note by defeating Jos Buttler-led English line-up by 50 runs in the first T20I at the Rose Bowl, Southampton on Thursday (July 07). While Hardik Pandya was the star performer, returning with 51 and 4 for 33, Deepak Hooda, Suryakumar Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal and Arshdeep Singh also had a good outing.

After Rohit Sharma-led India's convincing win, former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer has heaped praise on Deepak Hooda and feels his recent performances will put pressure on a struggling Virat Kohli. While Kohli's strike rate has dipped a bit, especially in the IPL, Hooda has been onsong since the Ireland T20Is. The right-hander has had scores of 47*, 104, 59 and 33 in his last four T20Is and the 27-year-old has impressed with his hitting abilities from the word go, helping India get off to a flying start in the powerplays.

Thus, Jaffer told ESPNCricinfo, "Hooda’s performance will put pressure on Virat Kohli when he comes back. You’ve got a guy who has done so well, performed consistently in the IPL and the T20Is as well. The pressure might bring out the best of Virat Kohli."

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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/its-something-we-rohit-sharma-breaks-silence-over-frequent-captaincy-changes-in-india-watch-495598">'It's something we....' - Rohit Sharma breaks silence over frequent captaincy changes in India - WATCH</a>

Lavishing praise on India's attacking approach from the onset, Jaffer opined, "You’ve got to like the way they accelerated and the momentum they batted with. This was missing in the last T20 World Cup all the time. They are going with that aggressive approach, which is very refreshing to see."

“The big guys who are missing, KL Rahul (after recovering from injury) and Virat, are going to come back. But India will be happy that they have got the guys to back them up. However, the approach needs to be similar. This is the brand of cricket they need to play if they want to dominate this format. This is something we would like to see from the main guys as well,” Jaffer further asserted.

Regulars such as Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja are now available for the second and penultimate T20I, to be held in Edgbaston, Birmingham on Saturday (July 09).
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India started their white-ball series versus England on a winning note by defeating Jos Buttler-led English line-up by 50 runs in the first T20I at the Rose Bowl, Southampton on Thursday (July 07).

India started their white-ball series versus England on a winning note by defeating Jos Buttler-led English line-up by 50 runs in the first T20I at the Rose Bowl, Southampton on Thursday (July 07). While Hardik Pandya was the star performer, returning with 51 and 4 for 33, Deepak Hooda, Suryakumar Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal and Arshdeep Singh also had a good outing. After Rohit Sharma-led India's convincing win, former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer has heaped praise on Deepak Hooda and feels his recent performances will put pressure on a struggling Virat Kohli. While Kohli's strike rate has dipped a bit, especially in the IPL, Hooda has been onsong since the Ireland T20Is. The right-hander has had scores of 47*, 104, 59 and 33 in his last four T20Is and the 27-year-old has impressed with his hitting abilities from the word go, helping India get off to a flying start in the powerplays. Thus, Jaffer told ESPNCricinfo, "Hooda’s performance will put pressure on Virat Kohli when he comes back. You’ve got a guy who has done so well, performed consistently in the IPL and the T20Is as well. The pressure might bring out the best of Virat Kohli." ALSO READ | 'It's something we....' - Rohit Sharma breaks silence over frequent captaincy changes in India - WATCH Lavishing praise on India's attacking approach from the onset, Jaffer opined, "You’ve got to like the way they accelerated and the momentum they batted with. This was missing in the last T20 World Cup all the time. They are going with that aggressive approach, which is very refreshing to see." “The big guys who are missing, KL Rahul (after recovering from injury) and Virat, are going to come back. But India will be happy that they have got the guys to back them up. However, the approach needs to be similar. This is the brand of cricket they need to play if they want to dominate this format. This is something we would like to see from the main guys as well,” Jaffer further asserted. Regulars such as Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja are now available for the second and penultimate T20I, to be held in Edgbaston, Birmingham on Saturday (July 09).

'His performance will put pressure on Virat Kohli' - Wasim Jaffer heaps praise on Indian star

Rohit Sharma-led India faced England in the first T20I, of the three-match series, on Thursday (July 07) in Southampton. India were without the likes of Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja but the second-stringed side beat England comfortably, by 50 runs, to take a 1-0 lead.&nbsp;

Opting to bat first at The Rose Bowl, Southampton, India rode on quickfire knocks from Deepak Hooda, Suryakumar Yadav and all-rounder Hardik Pandya's 51 to post 198-8. In reply, Hardik rose to the occasion with the ball and returned with a match-winning spell of 4-0-33-4 to guide India to an easy win over Jos Buttler &amp; Co. With his all-round blitz, the 28-year-old Hardik also scripted a massive feat by becoming the first-ever Indian to score a fifty and return with a four-wicket haul in a T20I.

Thus, Hardik&nbsp;joined the list of elite all-rounders such as Dwayne Bravo, Shane Watson, and Mohammed Hafeez to have achieved the same feat earlier. Former all-rounder Yuvraj Singh came close to this record in 2009 when he returned with&nbsp;a half-century and scalped three wickets in India's six-wicket win over Sri Lanka in Mohali in 2009.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/eng-vs-ind-rohit-sharma-scripts-history-becomes-first-captain-to-win-13-successive-t20is-495573">ENG vs IND: Rohit Sharma scripts history, becomes first captain to win 13 successive T20Is</a>

At the post-match presentation, Player-of-the-Match Hardik said, "The last time I played a T20 in England, I think I took 4 wickets and scored some 30. So I kind of knew I was the first Indian to score fifty and take 4 wickets. I am enjoying my cricket right now. For me a lot of time goes into the preparation to get my body ready. The kind of break I took before this run of play I want to capitalize on the opportunities. I felt I needed that break. It is about giving your 100% and when you don't do that, there is no point playing. So I needed that break and now I am happy to be in this place right now."

India will now take on England in the second and penultimate T20I in&nbsp;Edgbaston, Birmingham

Rohit Sharma-led India faced England in the first T20I, of the three-match series, on Thursday (July 07) in Southampton. India were without the likes of Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja but the second-stringed side beat England comfortably, by 50 runs, to take a 1-0 lead.

Rohit Sharma-led India faced England in the first T20I, of the three-match series, on Thursday (July 07) in Southampton. India were without the likes of Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja but the second-stringed side beat England comfortably, by 50 runs, to take a 1-0 lead. Opting to bat first at The Rose Bowl, Southampton, India rode on quickfire knocks from Deepak Hooda, Suryakumar Yadav and all-rounder Hardik Pandya's 51 to post 198-8. In reply, Hardik rose to the occasion with the ball and returned with a match-winning spell of 4-0-33-4 to guide India to an easy win over Jos Buttler & Co. With his all-round blitz, the 28-year-old Hardik also scripted a massive feat by becoming the first-ever Indian to score a fifty and return with a four-wicket haul in a T20I. Thus, Hardik joined the list of elite all-rounders such as Dwayne Bravo, Shane Watson, and Mohammed Hafeez to have achieved the same feat earlier. Former all-rounder Yuvraj Singh came close to this record in 2009 when he returned with a half-century and scalped three wickets in India's six-wicket win over Sri Lanka in Mohali in 2009. ALSO READ | ENG vs IND: Rohit Sharma scripts history, becomes first captain to win 13 successive T20Is At the post-match presentation, Player-of-the-Match Hardik said, "The last time I played a T20 in England, I think I took 4 wickets and scored some 30. So I kind of knew I was the first Indian to score fifty and take 4 wickets. I am enjoying my cricket right now. For me a lot of time goes into the preparation to get my body ready. The kind of break I took before this run of play I want to capitalize on the opportunities. I felt I needed that break. It is about giving your 100% and when you don't do that, there is no point playing. So I needed that break and now I am happy to be in this place right now." India will now take on England in the second and penultimate T20I in Edgbaston, Birmingham

ENG vs IND, 1st T20I: Hardik Pandya becomes first Indian to achieve MASSIVE feat in series opener

Hardik Pandya-led India kicked off their two-match T20I series versus Ireland at The Village, Dublin on Sunday evening (June 26). In a rain-affected 12-over aside contest, Hardik &amp; Co. defeated a spirited Ireland by seven wickets to take an unassailable lead in the process.&nbsp;

Vice-captain Bhuvneshwar Kumar set the tone for Team India after the visitors opted to bowl first. Bhuvi removed Ireland captain Andy Balbirnie for nought, with some early movement, and took India off to a flier. While&nbsp;Harry Tector's 33-ball 64 propelled Ireland to 108/4, in a dozen overs, Bhuvi remained economical (going at 5.30) and ended with 3-1-16-1. In reply, Deepak Hooda's unbeaten 47 and Hardik's 12-ball 24 took India to a comfortable win with 16 balls to spare.

While reviewing the&nbsp;India-Ireland T20I series opener in a video shared on his YouTube channel, former India cricketer Aakash Chopra pointed out the recent success that Bhuvi has achieved&nbsp;is his second coming. For the unversed, he was the Player-of-the-Series in the India-South Africa T20Is at home. In the Ireland series opener, the 32-year-old pacer attained another feat, becoming the leading wicket-taker in powerplays in T20Is (34). Thus, he went&nbsp;past West Indies spinner Samuel Badree and New Zealand seamer Tim Southee (both with 33 scalps each).&nbsp;

"Let's talk about Bhuvi because he has found a second wind. If you had asked me six to eight months back, I would have said that Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been a very good bowler, but he is not in my T20 scheme of things because there was no pace in the deliveries."

"There was swing in the hand, but let's be honest, the swing that was always there had also reduced, the pace was slightly going down, and suddenly you are asking that an important component of the bowling is missing, without which it will not work because there are a lot of other bowlers," opined Chopra.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/hardik-pandya-rising-up-the-ranks-with-ms-dhonis-learnings-492204">Hardik Pandya, rising up the ranks with MS Dhoni's learnings</a>

Chopra further added, "But this is his second wind. You will give him a lot of credit for how well he has bowled. You will also credit the team management for sticking with him continuously, I felt they would not stay with him after the World Cup. But he is continuously improving. The way the ball is swinging from his hand, it's been a revelation of sorts about how well you can get your rhythm back. The speed gun is still showing the same speed but the swing is back. That means Bhuvneshwar Kumar is back. I am really, really happy for him."

Bhuvi-starrer India will take on Ireland in the second and final T20I on June 28 (Tuesday) at the same venue.

Hardik Pandya-led India kicked off their two-match T20I series versus Ireland at The Village, Dublin on Sunday evening (June 26). In a rain-affected 12-over aside contest, Hardik & Co.

Hardik Pandya-led India kicked off their two-match T20I series versus Ireland at The Village, Dublin on Sunday evening (June 26). In a rain-affected 12-over aside contest, Hardik & Co. defeated a spirited Ireland by seven wickets to take an unassailable lead in the process. Vice-captain Bhuvneshwar Kumar set the tone for Team India after the visitors opted to bowl first. Bhuvi removed Ireland captain Andy Balbirnie for nought, with some early movement, and took India off to a flier. While Harry Tector's 33-ball 64 propelled Ireland to 108/4, in a dozen overs, Bhuvi remained economical (going at 5.30) and ended with 3-1-16-1. In reply, Deepak Hooda's unbeaten 47 and Hardik's 12-ball 24 took India to a comfortable win with 16 balls to spare. While reviewing the India-Ireland T20I series opener in a video shared on his YouTube channel, former India cricketer Aakash Chopra pointed out the recent success that Bhuvi has achieved is his second coming. For the unversed, he was the Player-of-the-Series in the India-South Africa T20Is at home. In the Ireland series opener, the 32-year-old pacer attained another feat, becoming the leading wicket-taker in powerplays in T20Is (34). Thus, he went past West Indies spinner Samuel Badree and New Zealand seamer Tim Southee (both with 33 scalps each). "Let's talk about Bhuvi because he has found a second wind. If you had asked me six to eight months back, I would have said that Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been a very good bowler, but he is not in my T20 scheme of things because there was no pace in the deliveries." "There was swing in the hand, but let's be honest, the swing that was always there had also reduced, the pace was slightly going down, and suddenly you are asking that an important component of the bowling is missing, without which it will not work because there are a lot of other bowlers," opined Chopra. ALSO READ | Hardik Pandya, rising up the ranks with MS Dhoni's learnings Chopra further added, "But this is his second wind. You will give him a lot of credit for how well he has bowled. You will also credit the team management for sticking with him continuously, I felt they would not stay with him after the World Cup. But he is continuously improving. The way the ball is swinging from his hand, it's been a revelation of sorts about how well you can get your rhythm back. The speed gun is still showing the same speed but the swing is back. That means Bhuvneshwar Kumar is back. I am really, really happy for him." Bhuvi-starrer India will take on Ireland in the second and final T20I on June 28 (Tuesday) at the same venue.

'He has found....': Former cricketer all praise for star India player after Ireland T20I series opener

India and South Africa's five-match T20I series ended in a stalemate, 2-2, after the fifth and final encounter was abandoned due to persistent rain in Bengaluru. Despite the series not determining a winner between both sides, there were a lot of positives for the hosts India, who were without many of their white-ball regulars.

The Rishabh Pant-led Indian team saw top performances from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who returned with the Player-of-the-Match, Hardik Pandya, Ishan Kishan, Dinesh Karthik, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan and Yuzvendra Chahal. After the series, former SA captain Graeme Smith named two players who are now integral to India's T20I squad and named the X-factor for Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. heading into the 2022 T20 World Cup.

Speaking to&nbsp;cricket.com, batting icon Smith opined that Pandya and Karthik have become somewhat indispensable. In this regard, he opined, "Still a lot of cricket to be played so it is difficult to predict what is going to happen in the next couple of months but you are going to think Hardik and DK are integral to that squad. DK is experienced with that finishing role that he has played Hardik has grown leaps and bounds and is in control of his game."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/hardik-pandya-spent-a-lot-of-time-with-dhoni-virat-but-has-his-own-brand-of-captaincy-ex-india-stumper-490187">Hardik Pandya spent a lot of time with Dhoni, Virat but has his own brand of captaincy: Ex-India stumper</a>

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On Hardik, Smith added, "Mentally he looks like he has settled. And he is also that all-rounder X Factor that India require to just balance the team with him and Jadeja in the squad which opens up a lot of options. So I can't see that those two not making it to the World Cup squad."

Both Hardik and DK will next be seen in action during India's forthcoming two-match T20I series versus Ireland, in Dublin, on June 26 and 28.
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India and South Africa's five-match T20I series ended in a stalemate, 2-2, after the fifth and final encounter was abandoned due to persistent rain in Bengaluru.

India and South Africa's five-match T20I series ended in a stalemate, 2-2, after the fifth and final encounter was abandoned due to persistent rain in Bengaluru. Despite the series not determining a winner between both sides, there were a lot of positives for the hosts India, who were without many of their white-ball regulars. The Rishabh Pant-led Indian team saw top performances from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who returned with the Player-of-the-Match, Hardik Pandya, Ishan Kishan, Dinesh Karthik, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan and Yuzvendra Chahal. After the series, former SA captain Graeme Smith named two players who are now integral to India's T20I squad and named the X-factor for Rohit Sharma & Co. heading into the 2022 T20 World Cup. Speaking to cricket.com, batting icon Smith opined that Pandya and Karthik have become somewhat indispensable. In this regard, he opined, "Still a lot of cricket to be played so it is difficult to predict what is going to happen in the next couple of months but you are going to think Hardik and DK are integral to that squad. DK is experienced with that finishing role that he has played Hardik has grown leaps and bounds and is in control of his game." ALSO READ | Hardik Pandya spent a lot of time with Dhoni, Virat but has his own brand of captaincy: Ex-India stumper On Hardik, Smith added, "Mentally he looks like he has settled. And he is also that all-rounder X Factor that India require to just balance the team with him and Jadeja in the squad which opens up a lot of options. So I can't see that those two not making it to the World Cup squad." Both Hardik and DK will next be seen in action during India's forthcoming two-match T20I series versus Ireland, in Dublin, on June 26 and 28.

Graeme Smith names star player as Rohit Sharma-led India's 'X-factor' for 2022 T20 World Cup

India played an intense five-match T20I series versus South Africa at home, which concluded on Sunday evening (June 19). With the series levelled at 2-2, both sides had all to play for before the final encounter, at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, which ended in no-result with only 3.3 overs of play possible due to persistent rain.

Despite the series being shared, India had quite a few positives with the form and performances of Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, etc. as they continue to fix their final combination for the 2022 T20 World Cup, set to be held in Australia later this year. While a lot of players are still fighting hard to cement a spot in the final squad, Little Master Sunil Gavaskar was asked about veteran Shikhar Dhawan's chances.

"No. I don't see his name popping up. If it had to pop up, it would have been in this squad. A lot of guys have gone to England and he could have been in this squad. If he is not in this squad, I don't see him ending in the mix (for T20 World Cup)," Gavaskar said in an interaction on&nbsp;Star Sports&nbsp;during the Bengaluru T20I.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-sa-t20is-bhuvneshwar-kumar-creates-new-record-for-team-india-after-memorable-series-vs-proteas-489914">Ind vs SA, T20Is: Bhuvneshwar Kumar creates new record for Team India after memorable series vs Proteas</a>

For the unversed, Dhawan has played 68 T20Is for India, scoring&nbsp;1,759 runs at 126.36. While he has had seven consecutive IPL seasons with over 400-plus runs, his strike rate was deemed to be an issue for the Men in Blue. Even though Dhawan improved his strike rate in IPL, does well for India in&nbsp;ICC events and has has a lot of experience overall, he has fallen behind in the pecking order with the emergence of some young and dashing openers.&nbsp;Thus, he missed being a part of India's squad in the 2021 edition and is likely to remain out of favour for this year's showpiece event as well, which will take place Down Under.

India played an intense five-match T20I series versus South Africa at home, which concluded on Sunday evening (June 19). With the series levelled at 2-2, both sides had all to play for before the final encounter, at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, which ended in no-result with only 3.

India played an intense five-match T20I series versus South Africa at home, which concluded on Sunday evening (June 19). With the series levelled at 2-2, both sides had all to play for before the final encounter, at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, which ended in no-result with only 3.3 overs of play possible due to persistent rain. Despite the series being shared, India had quite a few positives with the form and performances of Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, etc. as they continue to fix their final combination for the 2022 T20 World Cup, set to be held in Australia later this year. While a lot of players are still fighting hard to cement a spot in the final squad, Little Master Sunil Gavaskar was asked about veteran Shikhar Dhawan's chances. "No. I don't see his name popping up. If it had to pop up, it would have been in this squad. A lot of guys have gone to England and he could have been in this squad. If he is not in this squad, I don't see him ending in the mix (for T20 World Cup)," Gavaskar said in an interaction on Star Sports during the Bengaluru T20I. ALSO READ | Ind vs SA, T20Is: Bhuvneshwar Kumar creates new record for Team India after memorable series vs Proteas For the unversed, Dhawan has played 68 T20Is for India, scoring 1,759 runs at 126.36. While he has had seven consecutive IPL seasons with over 400-plus runs, his strike rate was deemed to be an issue for the Men in Blue. Even though Dhawan improved his strike rate in IPL, does well for India in ICC events and has has a lot of experience overall, he has fallen behind in the pecking order with the emergence of some young and dashing openers. Thus, he missed being a part of India's squad in the 2021 edition and is likely to remain out of favour for this year's showpiece event as well, which will take place Down Under.

Don't see his name popping up: Sunil Gavaskar dismisses India star's chances of making it to T20 WC squad

India and South Africa were involved in a closely-fought five-match T20I series in the former's own backyard, which ended tamely with the fifth and final encounter being abandoned on Sunday (June 19). Due to persistent rain in Bengaluru, the final match of the series led to a no-result, however, Rishabh Pant-led Men in Blue had a lot of takeaways from the series.

The return and form of Dinesh Karthik, who made a comeback in the Team India setup after almost three years, made heads turn. DK returned with a tough 21-ball 30* in the second T20I and was the Player-of-the-Match in the fourth and final encounter, in Rajkot, which helped India level the series 2-2 before the final game resulted in no winner. Thus, calls have intensified for him to be a part of Rohit Sharma-led India's 2022 T20 World Cup squad.

DK had a splendid IPL 2022 season as well, returning with 330 runs at a strike rate of 183.33. Thus, he carried his form for India whereas Rishabh Pant fell flat with the bat in the SA series, ending with scores of&nbsp;29, 5, 6, 17 and 1*. He&nbsp;had a decent IPL 15, scoring 340 runs at 151.78 but hardly&nbsp;made match-winning contributions, unlike DK.

Thus, former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan -- who was part of MS Dhoni-led India's victorious 2007 T20 World Cup squad and ended as the Player-of-the-Match in the finale -- picked his ideal XI for Rohit &amp; Co., naming DK over Pant.

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Speaking to&nbsp;Star Sports,&nbsp;Pathan picked star batters KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the top 3 of his World Cup playing XI. “In Australia, you need powerful starts because the ball swings and seams a lot. So you need a player who has a lot of experience,” Pathan said. "Kohli may not have performed well so far but in Australia, he has scored a lot of runs,” he added.

Further, after picking the likes of Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya, Irfan chose DK over Pant and mentioned his all-rounders in Ravindra Jadeja, Harshal Patel (who can bat a bit) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar before ending his XI with&nbsp;Yuzvendra Chahal and Jasprit Bumrah.

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Irfan Pathan's India XI for 2022 T20 World Cup:&nbsp;KL Rahul, (C) Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah.

India and South Africa were involved in a closely-fought five-match T20I series in the former's own backyard, which ended tamely with the fifth and final encounter being abandoned on Sunday (June 19).

India and South Africa were involved in a closely-fought five-match T20I series in the former's own backyard, which ended tamely with the fifth and final encounter being abandoned on Sunday (June 19). Due to persistent rain in Bengaluru, the final match of the series led to a no-result, however, Rishabh Pant-led Men in Blue had a lot of takeaways from the series. The return and form of Dinesh Karthik, who made a comeback in the Team India setup after almost three years, made heads turn. DK returned with a tough 21-ball 30* in the second T20I and was the Player-of-the-Match in the fourth and final encounter, in Rajkot, which helped India level the series 2-2 before the final game resulted in no winner. Thus, calls have intensified for him to be a part of Rohit Sharma-led India's 2022 T20 World Cup squad. DK had a splendid IPL 2022 season as well, returning with 330 runs at a strike rate of 183.33. Thus, he carried his form for India whereas Rishabh Pant fell flat with the bat in the SA series, ending with scores of 29, 5, 6, 17 and 1*. He had a decent IPL 15, scoring 340 runs at 151.78 but hardly made match-winning contributions, unlike DK. Thus, former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan -- who was part of MS Dhoni-led India's victorious 2007 T20 World Cup squad and ended as the Player-of-the-Match in the finale -- picked his ideal XI for Rohit & Co., naming DK over Pant. ALSO READ | WATCH: Netizens divided over Ruturaj Gaikwad's behaviour with groundsman in Bengaluru T20I Speaking to Star Sports, Pathan picked star batters KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the top 3 of his World Cup playing XI. “In Australia, you need powerful starts because the ball swings and seams a lot. So you need a player who has a lot of experience,” Pathan said. "Kohli may not have performed well so far but in Australia, he has scored a lot of runs,” he added. Further, after picking the likes of Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya, Irfan chose DK over Pant and mentioned his all-rounders in Ravindra Jadeja, Harshal Patel (who can bat a bit) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar before ending his XI with Yuzvendra Chahal and Jasprit Bumrah. ALSO READ | Dinesh Karthik: The finisher who is far from finished Irfan Pathan's India XI for 2022 T20 World Cup: KL Rahul, (C) Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah.

Rishabh Pant or Dinesh Karthik? Irfan Pathan names his choice while picking Rohit & Co.'s ideal T20 WC XI

Kuldeep Yadav has had a tough ride in international cricket since the 2019 ODI World Cup. Following his IPL 2022 blitz, where he ended as the fifth-highest wicket while representing the Delhi Capitals (DC), the wrist-spinner is now in the scheme of things for Team India ahead of this year's T20 World Cup, set to be held in Australia.&nbsp;

Former Indian batter-turned-expert Sanjay Manjrekar has recently called for Kuldeep's inclusion in the Indian team ahead of the showpiece event Down Under. Manjrekar feels the pitches in Australia will assist a spinner like Kuldeep and won't be to the liking of Yuzvendra Chahal.

Speaking on&nbsp;Sports 18,&nbsp;Manjrekar was asked how Chahal, who was the Player-of-the-Match in the third T20I between India and South Africa on Tuesday (June 14), fits in the Men in Blue's plans going ahead. To this, the 56-year-old said, "He will be tested on those pitches in Australia. The pitches won't be the ones that Chahal relishes and that's why I believe Kuldeep Yadav has got to be a part of the squad. There will be bounce for his kind of bowler."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/yuzvendra-chahal-reveals-technical-changes-he-made-for-better-returns-after-indias-3rd-t20i-win-vs-sa-488379">Yuzvendra Chahal reveals technical changes he made for better returns after India's 3rd T20I win vs SA</a>

"The other thing is in a World Cup you play a different team every game, so there will come teams who will not be so good against the kind of deception that a Kuldeep Yadav has," Manjrekar further pointed out.

So far, Kuldeep has played 24 T20Is for India. In Australia, the 27-year-old spinner has played three T20Is, claiming four scalps at an economy of 5.50. He was part of India's ongoing home T20Is versus the Proteas before an injury ruled him out of action.

Kuldeep Yadav has had a tough ride in international cricket since the 2019 ODI World Cup. Following his IPL 2022 blitz, where he ended as the fifth-highest wicket while representing the Delhi Capitals (DC), the wrist-spinner is now in the scheme of things for Team India ahead of this year's T20 World Cup, set to be held in Australia.

Kuldeep Yadav has had a tough ride in international cricket since the 2019 ODI World Cup. Following his IPL 2022 blitz, where he ended as the fifth-highest wicket while representing the Delhi Capitals (DC), the wrist-spinner is now in the scheme of things for Team India ahead of this year's T20 World Cup, set to be held in Australia. Former Indian batter-turned-expert Sanjay Manjrekar has recently called for Kuldeep's inclusion in the Indian team ahead of the showpiece event Down Under. Manjrekar feels the pitches in Australia will assist a spinner like Kuldeep and won't be to the liking of Yuzvendra Chahal. Speaking on Sports 18, Manjrekar was asked how Chahal, who was the Player-of-the-Match in the third T20I between India and South Africa on Tuesday (June 14), fits in the Men in Blue's plans going ahead. To this, the 56-year-old said, "He will be tested on those pitches in Australia. The pitches won't be the ones that Chahal relishes and that's why I believe Kuldeep Yadav has got to be a part of the squad. There will be bounce for his kind of bowler." ALSO READ | Yuzvendra Chahal reveals technical changes he made for better returns after India's 3rd T20I win vs SA "The other thing is in a World Cup you play a different team every game, so there will come teams who will not be so good against the kind of deception that a Kuldeep Yadav has," Manjrekar further pointed out. So far, Kuldeep has played 24 T20Is for India. In Australia, the 27-year-old spinner has played three T20Is, claiming four scalps at an economy of 5.50. He was part of India's ongoing home T20Is versus the Proteas before an injury ruled him out of action.

There'll be bounce for his kind of bowler in AUS: Manjrekar feels star spinner needed in India's T20 WC squad

Dinesh Karthik has been hailed by many and labelled as the comeback man after he was named in India's T20I squad for the home series versus Temba Bavuma-led South Africa. Karthik played his first-ever game for Team India -- after the 2019 ODI World Cup semi-finals -- when he stepped onto the 22-yard cricket strip for Rishabh Pant &amp; Co. during the series opener in New Delhi.

While he didn't face a lot of balls in the first T20I, Karthik returned with an impressive 21-ball 30 not out in the second match of the series, in Cuttack on Sunday evening (June 12). Thus, former Indian captain, Kapil Dev has heaped praise on DK for his impressive run in IPL 2022 -- where he ended with 330 runs at 183.33 for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) -- and lauded him for keeping his motivation levels high despite not representing India for a long time.

"This time he has performed so well (in IPL 15) that he has forced the selectors to think that 'look, you can't ignore me'. Rishabh Pant is a youngster, he has plenty of cricket. Dinesh Karthik has experience and performance, which is why I would say, that no praise is enough for him," said Kapil on Youtube channel Uncut.

The 1983 World Cup-winning captain&nbsp;added, "He has been playing cricket even before MS Dhoni. It’s been 2 years since Dhoni retired but even now, Karthik has kept his motivation level high and to love the game with the same passion and heart after so many years is not easy. If you talk about consistency, then Dinesh Karthik is ahead of them all. Irrespective of how many balls he faces – 20, 10, or 15, he always delivers, like we saw in the IPL."

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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-wouldnt-have-him-in-indias-t20-world-cup-squad-gautam-gambhirs-take-on-star-players-chances-488094">'I wouldn't have him in India's T20 World Cup squad' - Gautam Gambhir's take on star player's chances</a>

Karthik has surely kept his dreams alive of representing India in the 2022 T20 World Cup. Nonetheless, he would still need to perform on a consistent level to hold onto his spot, especially after regulars such as captain Rohit Sharma, vice-captain KL Rahul, former skipper Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, etc. return back into the playing XI.&nbsp;

Karthik-starrer India are facing South Africa in the third T20I in Visakhapatnam, on Tuesday evening (June 14), in a bid to keep the five-match series alive.
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Dinesh Karthik has been hailed by many and labelled as the comeback man after he was named in India's T20I squad for the home series versus Temba Bavuma-led South Africa.

Dinesh Karthik has been hailed by many and labelled as the comeback man after he was named in India's T20I squad for the home series versus Temba Bavuma-led South Africa. Karthik played his first-ever game for Team India -- after the 2019 ODI World Cup semi-finals -- when he stepped onto the 22-yard cricket strip for Rishabh Pant & Co. during the series opener in New Delhi. While he didn't face a lot of balls in the first T20I, Karthik returned with an impressive 21-ball 30 not out in the second match of the series, in Cuttack on Sunday evening (June 12). Thus, former Indian captain, Kapil Dev has heaped praise on DK for his impressive run in IPL 2022 -- where he ended with 330 runs at 183.33 for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) -- and lauded him for keeping his motivation levels high despite not representing India for a long time. "This time he has performed so well (in IPL 15) that he has forced the selectors to think that 'look, you can't ignore me'. Rishabh Pant is a youngster, he has plenty of cricket. Dinesh Karthik has experience and performance, which is why I would say, that no praise is enough for him," said Kapil on Youtube channel Uncut. The 1983 World Cup-winning captain added, "He has been playing cricket even before MS Dhoni. It’s been 2 years since Dhoni retired but even now, Karthik has kept his motivation level high and to love the game with the same passion and heart after so many years is not easy. If you talk about consistency, then Dinesh Karthik is ahead of them all. Irrespective of how many balls he faces – 20, 10, or 15, he always delivers, like we saw in the IPL." ALSO READ | 'I wouldn't have him in India's T20 World Cup squad' - Gautam Gambhir's take on star player's chances Karthik has surely kept his dreams alive of representing India in the 2022 T20 World Cup. Nonetheless, he would still need to perform on a consistent level to hold onto his spot, especially after regulars such as captain Rohit Sharma, vice-captain KL Rahul, former skipper Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, etc. return back into the playing XI. Karthik-starrer India are facing South Africa in the third T20I in Visakhapatnam, on Tuesday evening (June 14), in a bid to keep the five-match series alive.

He forced selectors to think that 'look, you can't ignore me': Kapil Dev heaps praise on Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik has made a remarkable comeback into the Indian team after the 2019 ODI World Cup. Many had written him off but the veteran keeper-batter produced a sensational performance with the bat for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in IPL 2022 and, hence, earned a recall into the Indian T20I line-up.

Karthik, at 37, is part of the Rishabh Pant-led Indian squad for the ongoing South Africa home T20Is. While he faced only two balls and was unbeaten on 1 in the series opener, Karthik produced another gem of an innings as a finisher when he returned with a 21-ball 30* in the second T20I versus the Proteas in Cuttack on Sunday evening (June 12). Thus, he is now also performing for Team India as he remains in contention to feature in the national side's 2022 T20 World Cup squad.

However, former Indian opener-turned-commentator Gautam Gambhir feels Karthik will find it tough to retain his place once regulars such as KL Rahul, captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and others return.

Speaking on Star Sports' Match Point, Gambhir lauded DK's 2nd T20I heroics and said, "It was very valuable (the knock), he has been doing that for the last 2-3 months for RCB. But, I was a bit amazed that Axar came ahead of Dinesh Karthik. I would've been more happy if he had come ahead of Axar."

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"Too early to say. T20 World Cup is far ahead. He needs to consistently perform till then but if he wants to bat only in the last three overs, things could get tough. India will definitely be looking at someone in the top 7 who can bowl and if Axar is batting at 7, the team would be a batter short," he opined.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-sa-prediction-who-will-win-3rd-t20i-between-india-and-south-africa-in-visakhapatnam-488033">IND vs SA prediction: Who will win 3rd T20I between India and South Africa in Visakhapatnam</a>

"In such a case I would not have him (Karthik) in the World Cup Squad. I would definitely have people like Rishabh Pant, and Deepak Hooda (in the team). We have got KL Rahul, we've got Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma. Once they come back, it's going to be tough for Dinesh Karthik to find a place in the playing XI. If he doesn't have a place in the playing XI, there's no point giving him a place in the squad," Gambhir mentioned.

"Once KL, Rohit, Surya and Virat are back, I don't see him in the playing XI. This will be your top 4 and then you'll have someone like Hooda, Pant, Hardik, Jadeja. I will have a younger guy (in place of Karthik) who is a better fielder on those grounds and can probably chip in with a couple of overs as well. Karthik, unfortunately, will have to miss out unless and until the selectors make a huge call and drop one of the top four," the cricketer-turned-politician added.

Karthik, however, would want to continue performing for Team India in the remainder of the SA series to keep his World Cup dreams alive. On Tuesday evening (June 14), Pant &amp; Co. will take on Temba Bavuma's South Africa in the third T20I to keep the series alive after conceding a 2-0 lead.
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Dinesh Karthik has made a remarkable comeback into the Indian team after the 2019 ODI World Cup. Many had written him off but the veteran keeper-batter produced a sensational performance with the bat for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in IPL 2022 and, hence, earned a recall into the Indian T20I line-up.

Dinesh Karthik has made a remarkable comeback into the Indian team after the 2019 ODI World Cup. Many had written him off but the veteran keeper-batter produced a sensational performance with the bat for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in IPL 2022 and, hence, earned a recall into the Indian T20I line-up. Karthik, at 37, is part of the Rishabh Pant-led Indian squad for the ongoing South Africa home T20Is. While he faced only two balls and was unbeaten on 1 in the series opener, Karthik produced another gem of an innings as a finisher when he returned with a 21-ball 30* in the second T20I versus the Proteas in Cuttack on Sunday evening (June 12). Thus, he is now also performing for Team India as he remains in contention to feature in the national side's 2022 T20 World Cup squad. However, former Indian opener-turned-commentator Gautam Gambhir feels Karthik will find it tough to retain his place once regulars such as KL Rahul, captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and others return. Speaking on Star Sports' Match Point, Gambhir lauded DK's 2nd T20I heroics and said, "It was very valuable (the knock), he has been doing that for the last 2-3 months for RCB. But, I was a bit amazed that Axar came ahead of Dinesh Karthik. I would've been more happy if he had come ahead of Axar." "Too early to say. T20 World Cup is far ahead. He needs to consistently perform till then but if he wants to bat only in the last three overs, things could get tough. India will definitely be looking at someone in the top 7 who can bowl and if Axar is batting at 7, the team would be a batter short," he opined. ALSO READ | IND vs SA prediction: Who will win 3rd T20I between India and South Africa in Visakhapatnam "In such a case I would not have him (Karthik) in the World Cup Squad. I would definitely have people like Rishabh Pant, and Deepak Hooda (in the team). We have got KL Rahul, we've got Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma. Once they come back, it's going to be tough for Dinesh Karthik to find a place in the playing XI. If he doesn't have a place in the playing XI, there's no point giving him a place in the squad," Gambhir mentioned. "Once KL, Rohit, Surya and Virat are back, I don't see him in the playing XI. This will be your top 4 and then you'll have someone like Hooda, Pant, Hardik, Jadeja. I will have a younger guy (in place of Karthik) who is a better fielder on those grounds and can probably chip in with a couple of overs as well. Karthik, unfortunately, will have to miss out unless and until the selectors make a huge call and drop one of the top four," the cricketer-turned-politician added. Karthik, however, would want to continue performing for Team India in the remainder of the SA series to keep his World Cup dreams alive. On Tuesday evening (June 14), Pant & Co. will take on Temba Bavuma's South Africa in the third T20I to keep the series alive after conceding a 2-0 lead.

'I wouldn't have him in India's T20 World Cup squad' - Gautam Gambhir's take on star player's chances

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