With the IND vs AUS series already in the pocket, India Cricket Team jet off to Bengaluru for a dead rubber on Sunday. While the match would add to the tally of either win or loss, it is a chance to give game-time to two players who have only warmed the bench. Shivam Dube and Washington Sundar haven’t had any game time so far and they could come into the India Playing XI in IND vs AUS 5th T20I.
India Cricket Team have already used 15 players so far in the series. With the T20 World Cup 2024 audition still on, most of them have fared well barring the pace attack. Only Mukesh Kumar has been a little effective on flat decks. But as T20s have been all about all-rounders, India are yet to try Shivam Dube and Washington Sundar in India Playing XI.
Is there a place for Shivam Dube?
It’s fair to assume that Shivam Dube will have to live in Hardik Pandya’s shadows with a similar skill set. He is a batting all-rounder who can offer seam bowling a bit. But Hardik is a more reliable bowler. To make things difficult for Dube, both Rinku Singh and Jitesh Sharma have excelled in the finisher’s role, leaving no place for him in the team. Then where does he fit in?
Chennai Super Kings used Shivam Dube in a floater role, batting at No 3 to No 6 depending on match situations. However, in India Cricket Team, Top 4 are locked in, leaving No 5, 6 & 7 the only positions to experiment with in India Playing XI. In IND vs AUS 5th T20I, if he is called in, India will either have to leave out Rinku Singh or Axar Patel. M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru being the graveyard for spinners, it is likely that Axar Patel will be rested.
Washington Sundar vs Shivam Dube vs Axar Patel
Hence, the only open place is at No 7. And it’s a three-way battle. Axar Patel bowled an excellent spell with 3/16 in Raipur to bag the Player of the Match award. And to bench him in Bengaluru will need serious discussion. However, with the series sealed, India Cricket Team can afford to make that switch.
It comes down to Washington Sundar vs Shivam Dube. As Team India look for a long-term replacement for Ravichandran Ashwin, Sundar is the only answer to that puzzle in white-ball cricket. But will India risk an off-spinner in India Playing XI in Bengaluru? It’s highly unlikely.
That puts Shivam Dube ahead in the race. However, if Team India want to gamble, both Sundar and Dubey can slot in, replacing Axar Patel and Ravi Bishnoi, the two architects of India’s win in Raipur.
No end in sight to bowling woes
What India must address is pace bowling. Avesh Khan bowled a good spell in Raipur with 1/33. But Deepak Chahar returned to the side, conceding 44 runs. Mukesh Kumar gave away 42 runs. Before that, it was Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna who took a beating as well. However, despite that, the pace attack is unlikely to change Bengaluru.
In the batting department, all is well and nothing needs to change. Shreyas Iyer did flop on return to T20Is but considering the form he showed in World Cup he will come good. Jitesh Sharma was excellent with 19-ball 35 and will retain his place in the India Playing XI.
Predicted India Playing XI vs AUS 5th T20I
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Ruturaj Gaikwad
- Shreyas Iyer
- Suryakumar Yadav (C)
- Jitesh Sharma (WK)
- Rinku Singh
- Axar Patel/Shivam Dube
- Ravi Bishnoi/ Washington Sundar
- Deepak Chahar
- Avesh Khan
- Mukesh Kumar
India squad for 5th T20: Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Shivam Dubey, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar, Shreyas Iyer (VC), Deepak Chahar
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