The T20 World Cup returns to Indian soil after a decade, and Team India is expected to deliver an exceptional performance in defence of their title. The men in blue, placed in Group A, will begin their campaign
against the USA on February 7 in Mumbai. Ahead of their title defence, former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has warned the reigning champions about their fragile death bowling.
In preparation for the tournament, India has relied heavily on their spinners. Since their T20 World Cup win in 2024, Arshdeep Singh is the only pacer among the top five bowlers. The left-arm quick has taken 31 wickets in 20 matches at an average of over 18. Spinner Varun Chakravarthy leads the pack with 53 wickets in 27 matches at an average of nearly 13.
This spin-heavy strategy has been successful for India, as they have not lost a series since their T20 World Cup win, securing 27 wins out of 36 matches, with just five losses, two ties, and two no results. They also triumphed in the Asia Cup last year in the spin-friendly conditions of the UAE.
Speaking on JioStar’s ‘The Experts’ View’, Karthik acknowledged Team India’s ‘phenomenal record in a volatile format like T20’ but noted that no match is easy in this format.
“The Indian team is in a strong position currently. They have won 29 of the 36 T20 matches they have played post the World Cup, a phenomenal record. In a format where upsets are common, this level of consistency is impressive. Winning 29 out of 36 games is very hard to replicate,” Karthik said.
He highlighted the team’s strength and their impressive performance in the recent Asia Cup, where they defeated Pakistan three times, including in the final. He noted that Group A includes India, Pakistan, and three associate nations still finding their footing in international cricket.
“You would expect India or Pakistan to beat them, but the beauty of this format is that no game is easy. Losing the toss and bowling can make it challenging to defend a total, especially under dew conditions. India is in a very good place,” he added.
Despite highlighting the team’s strengths, Karthik expressed concern about India’s death bowling.
“It’s challenging because of their team composition. In subcontinent matches, they have relied on Bumrah, Hardik Pandya as the second pacer, and Shivam Dube as the third, while heavily backing their spinners. When games go deep, and they are defending a total, the back end can become difficult,” he added.
