Team India’s preparation for the T20 World Cup 2022 is reaching its conclusion steadily as the Men in Blue are playing their second last warm-up match against Australia on Monday, October 17, at the Gabba. The Indians listed all 15 players of their squad in the team sheet for the match, indicating everyone will have some parts to play in the game.
However, what stood out was the Indian jersey that Rohit Sharma was wearing when he came out for the toss, as well as when KL Rahul and the Indian skipper went to bat. The Indian kit, which usually features three stars on top of the BCCI logo, was missing two of them.
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When the BCCI launched the Indian kits for the T20 World Cup 2022, it had all three stars, signifying India’s three World Cup wins — two ODI World Cups in 1983 and 2011, along with a T20 World Cup victory in 2007. However, the absence of two stars is for the T20 World Cup only as the one remaining star is signifying India’s victory in the tournament 15 years ago.
India will begin their T20 World Cup 2022 campaign officially against arch-rivals Pakistan on October 23, Sunday, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The Men in Blue were humiliated by the Pakistani team in the previous edition in Dubai when they were defeated by 10 wickets.
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However, while the Indian batting has picked up form just ahead of the World Cup, the bowling lineup has been depleted severely, following injuries to star bowler Jasprit Bumrah and Deepak Chahar, as well as all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. However, replacements have been announced for the absent bowlers, and many suspect that India does not have the necessary quality needed to win the tournament.
Following their match against Pakistan, India will also be playing South Africa, Bangladesh and two qualifying nations from the group stages in the rest of their Super 12 matches.