WI vs India 2022: Perfect T20 Playing 11 without KL Rahul

KL Rahul ruled out as we look at the best T20 playing 11 for Team India for the 2022 series vs West Indies (WI).  

The Indian Cricket Team is jam-packed this season. With so many tournaments and tours lined up, the boys will have to put in a lot of effort to shine through. With the cricket season coming up, you can start learning about sports betting to earn some profit. You can Read More about it to make use of the opportunity. Presently, India is preparing to face West Indies in a series of five T20 matches scheduled from 29th July in Trinidad. Unfortunately, it seems that the Men in Blue will have to face a few hindrances before the matches even begin.

Just as KL Rahul had been practising hard at the NDA ahead of the crucial fitness Test, unfortunate news broke out. Sourav Ganguly confirmed in an interview that KL Rahul has tested COVID positive, and will be unavailable for the T20 series. This is big news as KL Rahul had been eagerly waiting for a comeback. 

Meanwhile, the Indian team is currently busy playing the 3-match ODI Series vs West Indies. The squad for the ODI series is filled with youngsters as most of the senior players have been rested. Team India’s primary captain, Rohit Sharma is also unavailable, and Shikhar Dhawan is leading the side in his absence. 

But the good thing is that Rohit Sharma will be back for the T20 series, and will also lead the side. But with vice-captain KL Rahul not available, what’s the perfect T20 playing 11 that Team India can deploy for the 2022 T20 series vs West Indies? Let’s find out in this article. Before that, let’s look at the updated squad. 

WI vs India 2022 – Official T20 Series Squad Players List for Team India: 

Batters: Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, & Suryakumar Yadav 

Wks: Dinesh Karthik, Ishan Kishan & Rishabh Pant

All-rounders: Axar Patel, Deepak Hooda, Hardik Pandya & Ravindra Jadeja 

Bowlers: Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin & Ravi Bishnoi 

Coach: Rahul Dravid // Captain: Rohit Sharma 

Openers: Rohit Sharma & Rishabh Pant

As KL Rahul has been ruled out of the T20 series, Rishabh Pant should continue to open for Team India. This would be a continuation of a good move that we had recently seen in the T20 series vs England. It would be another great opportunity for Rishabh Pant to stamp his authority at the top against a relatively weak side.

Middle-order: Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant & Hardik Pandya

With Virat Kohli rested and KL Rahul ruled out, Deepak Hooda should get a lifeline to feature in the playing 11. After an impressive show so far in his T20I career, Deepak Hooda’s inclusion should be cheered by all fans across the board. Deepak Hooda should bat at number 3 in Virat Kohli’s absence, and will play the role of all-rounder. 

The numbers 4 and 5 should see Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya playing a key role. With Rishabh Pant playing as an opener, it does give an opportunity to Surya and Hardik more game time in the middle. If Pant gets succeeds as an opener, SKY and Hardik at 4 and 5 will be able to add more weightage to the Indian team.

Finishers: Dinesh Karthik & Ravindra Jadeja

Coming to the finishers, India would stick to Dinesh Karthik and Ravindra Jadeja for this role. These two have been doing the finishing role for quite some time now, and against a side like West Indies, this would another good opportunity. Overall, even without KL Rahul and Virat Kohli, this line-up looks quite solid. 

Bowlers: Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav & Ravi Bishnoi

The bowling line-up for Team India should see a few changes from the one that played against England. With the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Yuzvendra Chahal rested, India would have to look for two good bowlers. The combination can be of one pacer and one spinner or two spinners.

Looking at the conditions in West Indies and India’s squad selection, spinners could get more benefit. With Hardik’s bowling coming out well, India can afford to play three spinners including Jadeja. So, India would play 2 frontline pacers, 2 frontline spinners, 1 pace all-rounder, and 1 spin all-rounder. 

WI vs India 2022: Perfect Predicted T20 Playing 11 for Team India

Rohit Sharma (C), Rishabh Pant (WK), Deepak Hooda Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav & Ravi Bishnoi

So, that completes the perfect playing 11 for Team India for the 2022 T20 series vs West Indies. Ideally, 9-10 members should be confirmed starters from the playing 11 mentioned above. Most probably, there will be debate over the inclusion of two spinners. Rest line-up should remain the same.  

Meanwhile, here’s the full schedule for WI vs India 2022 T20 Series:

• 1st T20I // July 29 // 8 pm IST // Tarouba 
• 2nd T20I // August 1 // 8 pm IST // Basseterre
• 3rd T20I // August 2 // 8 pm IST // Basseterre
• 4th T20I // August 6 // 8 pm IST // Lauderhill
• 5th T20I // August 7 // 8 pm IST // Lauderhill

Thanks for reading! What’s your playing 11 for Team India for the 2022 T20 series vs West Indies? Please email your comments to business@cricalytics.com

ALSO READ: West Indies vs India 2022: Official T20 Squad Players list – No Kohli

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Adesh Kothari

Adesh Kothari is the founder of AK4Tsay1 Cricalytics with over 20 years of experience following Cricket.

Cricket to him is like what Football is to Lionel Messi, Singing is to Lata Mangeshkar, Dancing is to Michael Jackson, and Acting is to Clint Eastwood.

Besides his effervescent love for Cricket, Adesh is an MBA by qualification.