As the ODI series between India and New Zealand begins, with all focus on Shubman Gill as captain and on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, one eye will also have to be on the T20 series — the last warm-up opportunity ahead of the World Cup, which starts on January 21. The BCCI has announced that Tilak Varma is out of the first three games, and from what we know, his rehab will start in 10 days, when he gradually begins skill training. Maybe this is why the BCCI hasn’t called up Shreyas Iyer or Rajat Patidar, and is confident that Tilak will be back in time for the World Cup.
This New Zealand series serves as a great opportunity for skipper Suryakumar Yadav to get back into form. In the absence of Tilak, he can push himself up to the No. 3 slot, which will give him the opportunity to play himself in and get back into rhythm. For Surya, this is his best chance to regain the confidence he needs. While he has led the team extremely well, he needs to score — and score big — for India to feel comfortable, and the New Zealand series is the final opportunity ahead of the World Cup to do so.
Another option India have is to try Ishan Kishan at No. 3 if they haven’t called in a replacement. This move would do two things for the team. First, it would allow Surya to stay at No. 4, a position he wants to bat in when Tilak returns. Second, it would give India a chance to try out Ishan, who has been in stellar form, while giving Tilak the time to recover and reclaim his place for the World Cup.
For Ishan, this could be the big break he has been waiting for. Dropped from the team on grounds of attitude, he has worked hard to make his way back into the national setup. It’s also worth noting that he is in excellent form in domestic cricket and deserves an opportunity. If Shreyas or Rajat haven’t been called up, it suggests that India are confident about Tilak’s recovery and also want to test Ishan against New Zealand.
For Gautam Gambhir and his coaching staff, the next two months could define their stint with the national team. Looking at the records, India haven’t lost a single T20 series in recent times. They have beaten teams like South Africa, England, and Australia, and also defeated Pakistan three times in the Asia Cup. This is the one format where India have truly dominated, and now it all comes down to the final tournament — the World Cup.
Gambhir will know this well, and will also know that he has a team capable of going the distance. While it’s impossible to predict the winner, it is apt to say, as Aakash Chopra suggested on Backstage with Boria: “This is a team that has the mettle to win the World Cup. They have all the bases covered and are a quality T20 side.”
Now, it’s about Surya scoring runs, Tilak recovering in time, and Ishan stepping up as the backup option. If that happens, the script will fall nicely into place for India.
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