T20 WC 2024: Rahul Dravid sent massive warning by Navjot Singh Sidhu, instils fear of losing

Former India opener Navjot Singh Sidhu offered straightforward advice to head coach Rahul Dravid for the T20 World Cup 2024. Navjot Singh Sidhu warned Rahul Dravid against selecting "bits-and-pieces" players for the ICC tournament, set to take place in the West Indies and the USA.

The Men in Blue last won the ICC trophy when they beat England in the final match of the Champions Trophy 2013. The Indian team has been unable to secure another ICC trophy in the last decade. The team missed opportunities in the knockout matches of the ICC tournaments for 11 years.

In the past decade, Team India has faltered in four semifinals and two finals in white-ball formats. Despite reaching the finals in the first two editions of the World Test Championships, they failed to secure the title. India failed to clinch major trophies despite changes in captains and coaches.

The Rohit Sharma-led side came close to ending their trophy drought by reaching the ODI World Cup 2023 final at home. However, they failed to beat the Australian team in the summit clash. The team hopes to secure a victory in the T20 World Cup under the leadership of Rohit Sharma.

Have Five Wicket-Taking Specialist Bowlers - Navjot Singh Sidhu

Speaking on Star Sports, Navjot Singh Sidhu emphasized the importance of selecting a strong bowling lineup for the upcoming tournament. He advised Rahul Dravid to opt for five wicket-taking specialist bowlers.

"My straight advice to Rahul Dravid is that if you want to win this tournament, have five wicket-taking specialist bowlers, simple. The collapse of a team's character stems from the compromise column. Your character takes a hit when you compromise. You have three spinners – Bishnoi, Kuldeep and Jadeja picks himself. And play three fast bowlers," Sidhu said in a discussion with Star Sports.

"Mayank Yadav, if fit, walks into the side. Khaleel Ahmed, Mohsin Khan. And Delhi Capitals have Mukesh Kumar. I feel that the Indian team has so many options that if they take wicket-taking bowlers and do not compromise – thinking that this guy can bat a bit, bowl a bit. These bits-and-pieces things," he added.

They All Preferred Wicket-Taking Bowlers - Navjot Singh Sidhu

Navjot Singh Sidhu highlighted that legendary captains like Imran Khan and Steve Waugh won World Cups by prioritizing wicket-taking bowlers. Sidhu mentioned that an extra batter won't make an extra impact if seven batters can't win.

"All the great captains that I've seen – whether it was Imran Khan of Pakistan or Steve Waugh of Australia... look at what they did. They all preferred wicket-taking bowlers. And that's the secret. This is a theme that we tend to ignore. If seven batters can't win you the match, the eighth won't either," Sidhu further stated.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to unveil the 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup by May 1st. Players who miss the playoffs will head to the USA before the World Cup, while other players will join the national squad after concluding their IPL commitments.

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