World Cup to IPL: From the RAC to a confirmed seat

With T20Is in short supply and spots up for grabs, several players will look to impress selectors ahead of the mega event.

Given that India’s T20 team is far from complete in this World Cup year, the IPL provides an excellent opportunity for several players to stake their claims. Many positions are still up for grabs, from opener to partner Rohit Sharma to finishers and spinners. The management and selectors would have to assess performance and decide whether Indian performers could succeed on more enormous grounds in Australia.

There is no point in the opener changing his game drastically because Rohit Sharma is the captain and proven success in the T20s.

When given that role, Rahul can hit from the start, but Kohli will need to adapt and tweak his game a little. Otherwise, especially if Rohit fails to fire, they may meander and flounder later without proven power-hitters.

Rishabh Pant is there, but most teams have a few, and India could still make it by the World Cup, but it’s unclear who those batsmen will be. So if Kohli can adjust and start stronger than usual, it will benefit him and the team.

The pressure on Kohli comes from those around him and the combination of this Indian team, and it’s time for him to demonstrate that he can rise above it all. The Australian grounds may produce batting-friendly pitches for the T20 World Cup, but there will be more bounce than most other locations, allowing Kohli to thrive (more than others). This IPL provides him with the opportunity to try out for that role. Will he rise to the occasion?

The recent T20 World Cup demonstrated that India tends to sink or swim based on Rohit’s form. Given his recent performance, India will be keeping a close eye on his fitness. That leaves them with the question of his companion.