T20I World Cup 2022: Team India departs with 5 players who have never played in Australia; What will be India's prospect?

T20I World Cup 2022: The ICC Men's T20 World Cup will be held in Australia this year, and the 14-member Indian team left for Australia from Mumbai on Thursday to compete in it. Matches in the qualifying rounds will begin on October 16; the Super 12s will follow from October 22.

On October 23, the Rohit Sharma-led Indian squad will face Pakistan at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Just like last year, this will be the opener match for both the teams.

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But in order to familiarise themselves with the Australian conditions well in advance, the Indian team left two weeks before to the commencement of their T20 World Cup campaign. At least half of the Indian players chosen for the T20 World Cup have never played in Australia, therefore Indian team management has opted to fly there beforehand to assist them get used to the bounce there and get some useful practise time.

When India arrives in Perth, a weeklong camp will be held there. After that, they will head to Brisbane where they will play two practice games against the hosts and defending T20 World Cup champions Australia on October 17 and the runners-up New Zealand on October 19.

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Early on Thursday morning (October 6), the Indian players set off for Australia. BCCI shared a photo of the team just before departure, with the players and support staff posing for the group picture.

Only 14-player squad has departed to Australia

Since Jasprit Bumrah, who has been ruled out of the forthcoming major event owing to a back ailment, has not yet been replaced, only 14 players are currently travelling to Australia.

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Since the pacer has recently recovered from COVID-19, which forced him to miss the most recent two T20I series against Australia and South Africa at home, Mohammed Shami is most likely the front-runner to replace him in the Indian team. However, any decision regarding his inclusion will depend on his fitness test.

Along with the 14 players who left for Australia on Thursday, Mohammed Shami, Shreyas Iyer, Deepak Chahar, and Ravi Bishnoi will also be travelling to Australia the following week, once the ODI series against South Africa is through. The group has been chosen as the T20 World Cup's four reserve players. Mohammed Siraj, Umran Malik, Chetan Sakariya, and Mukesh Choudhary are also reportedly expected to join the team as more players in addition to them.

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