Former wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel highlighted India’s historic struggle to determine the right combination for the T20 World Cups. Parthiv Patel pointed out the dilemma of selecting the team midway through the IPL, emphasizing the limited T20I match opportunities.

India will play their next T20I series against South Africa as part of a multi-format tour. Veteran players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah have been rested for the series. India will play just one more T20I series before the start of the IPL 2024 season.

It’s a complicated situation – Parthiv Patel

In a conversation with Cricbuzz, Parthiv Patel highlighted India’s current challenge in determining the ideal T20 combination, especially given the limited match possibilities. Patel acknowledged the complexity of the situation in preparation for the T20 World Cup.

“For me, India’s biggest challenge has always been finding the right combination, especially in the T20 format. And we don’t have games. Now we are talking about just three Afghanistan matches, if Virat, Rohit or Bumrah play in them. So I think it is something that India will have to take into account.” Parthiv told Cricbuzz.

“Otherwise, they will have to choose whoever does well in the IPL. But then you will also have to announce the team about halfway through the IPL. So it’s a challenge. I am sure that before announcing the team they must have thought about who is in line for the World Cup and if we want to count on them for the Afghanistan series. It is a complicated situation”. he added.

Jasprit Bumrah has featured in only two T20Is last year. Rohit and Kohli have been absent from the T20I team since the defeat in the T20 World Cup 2022. Ravindra Jadeja, who last played in T20Is in August 2022, returned to the team as vice-captain for the series.

India was tactically outmatched – Parthiv Patel

Parthiv Patel emphasized that India’s challenge is to find the right mix as talent is abundant. He pointed out that in the recent ICC tournaments, India was outmatched strategically and not because of skill deficiencies.

“I think they are looking for more options by going with this young team. There is no shortage of talent in India. A problem of abundance is still a problem and we have to find the right combination. In any tournament they have played, India were not outskilled. They were tactically outmatched. Whether it was the 2023 final, the 2021 T20 World Cup, where India was playing that old-fashioned T20 game, in 2019 there was an issue with the number 4.”

“I assume Rahul Dravid would be the coach, there is confusion about that too. We don’t know who will be the captain. I think his biggest problem going into this T20 World Cup would be finding the right combination.” Patel further stated.

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