Predicted Playing XI Of Both The Teams If A T20 Match Is Simulated Between Shastri XI And Dravid XI

After a comfortable victory against Sri Lanka in the first ODI, India’s secondary team under skipper Shikhar Dhawan has signified that they are as worthy as the primary squad of India. The playing XI of the India National Cricket Team against Sri Lanka in the first ODI consisted of a few less-experienced and young players. However, the team showed great confidence on the field, outplaying Sri Lanka in both bowling and batting departments.

With 2-wicket hauls by Deepak Chahar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, and one wicket each by Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya, India restricted Sri Lanka to 262/9 in the 1^st innings. Later, with Prithvi Shaw (43), Shikhar Dhawan (86*), and Ishan Kishan’s (59) astonishing knocks, Indian managed to claim victory by 7 wickets.

Since the primary Indian squad with crucial Indian players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul among others are currently in England for the upcoming 5-match Test series in August-September, the secondary squad has been sent for the Sri Lanka tour.

Since India’s coach Ravi Shastri has also traveled to England with the Indian team, the squad for the Sri Lanka tour has been sent under coach Rahul Dravid. Both the former Indian cricketers have proved themselves to be effective coaches for India.

A T20 match between Ravi Shastri XI and Rahul Dravid XI will be an interesting game to watch out for. In this article, we look at the predicted playing XI of both the teams if a T20 match is simulated between Shastri XI and Dravid XI.

Predicted Playing XI Of Both The Teams If A T20 Match Is Simulated Between Shastri XI And Dravid XI

Predicted Playing XI Of Shastri XI

Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma should be the opener of the Shastri’s playing XI. Rohit Sharma is the regular opener for India in all three formats and among one of the best openers in international cricket. With 2864 runs in 133 innings at an average of 32.54 in T20Is and 5480 runs in 202 innings at an average of 31.49, Sharma has proved himself to be a powerful batsman in T20 format.

KL Rahul

KL Rahul should be another opener in the Shastri XI team. The right-handed batsman was the top run-scorer in IPL 2020 and the 2^nd highest run-scorer in IPL 2021’s first leg. The Punjab Kings skipper has an outstanding average of 46.53 in IPL with 2978 runs in 79 innings. In T20 internationals, the 29-year-old has smashed 1557 runs in 45 innings at an average of 39.92.

Virat Kohli (Captain)

Virat Kohli should be the skipper of Shastri’s playing XI and also the no. 3 batsman. The right-handed batsman has scored 3159 runs in 84 innings in T20Is at an outstanding average of 52.65. In IPL, the 32-year-old player is the highest run-getter with 6076 runs in 199 innings. Along with ODI and Test, Kohli is an impeccable batsman in T20 cricket too.

Mayank Agarwal

Since the Indian squad for the England Test series consists of many Test specialists, we need to find the best players among the squad who also suits in the T20 format. Mayank Agarwal is one such player.

He only represents the national side in Tests but is also a powerful batter in IPL. The Punjab Kings player has scored 1950 runs in 90 innings at an average of 22.67. He also accounts for 1 century and 9 half-centuries at a strike rate of 135+.

Rishabh Pant (Wicketkeeper)

Rishabh Pant should the wicket-keeper of Shastri’s playing XI. With his aggressive and fearless batting style, the left-handed batsman is a perfect batsman for T20 cricket. So far in 76 IPL matches, Pant has smacked 14 fifties and 1 century. In T20Is, he accounts for 2 fifties in 29 innings. His amazing strike rate of 123+ in T20Is and 149+ in IPL proves that Pant is a powerful choice at the lower middle-order in batting.

Ravindra Jadeja

For the all-rounder, Ravindra Jadeja will be the best choice in Shastri’s playing XI team. His incredible show against RCB in IPL 2021 shows his strength in batting and bowling. The left-handed batsman has scored 2290 runs in 145 IPL innings at an average of 26.62 along with 2 fifties. The left-arm spinner has also picked 120 wickets in IPL.

Washington Sundar

Washinton Sundar should be another player in the Shastri’s playing XI. The right-arm off-spinner has picked 25 wickets in 30 innings in T20Is and 27 wickets in 41 IPL games. He has also played few good knocks in T20 cricket and hence, he will be a bonus addition to the team.

Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah should the one of the pacers in the team of Shastri XI. The right-arm bowler is one of the dangerous pacers in international cricket as well as IPL. Jasprit Bumrah has played a crucial role in Mumbai Indians’ success in the Indian Premier League over the years.

Bumrah has scalped 115 wickets in 99 IPL matches at an economy of 7.39. In T20 internationals, he accounts for 59 wickets in 49 innings at an economy of just 6.66.

Mohammed Shami

Mohammed Shami should be another pacer in Ravi Shastri’s playing XI. In 12 T20Is, Shami has picked 12 wickets in 12 innings. The Punjab Kings bowler has picked 68 wickets in 71 matches in IPL and 12 wickets in 12 T20Is.

With his pace attack and bouncer, Shami can emerge as a lethal bowler in this team.

Mohammed Siraj

For the third pacer, Mohammed Siraj should be picked in this team. In recent times, Siraj has bagged the limelight with his pace attack. The right-arm pacer plays for Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL. In IPL 2021, he picked 6 wickets in 7 matches at an economy of 7.34. He also bowled a spectacular spell against Delhi Capitals while defending 14 runs in the last over and bagging victory by 1 run for the team.

Axar Patel

For the primary spinner, Axar Patel should be part of Ravi Shastri’s playing XI. The left-arm spinner has picked 86 wickets in 100 IPL games with an economy rate of 7.28. In T20 internationals, he has picked 9 wickets in 12 matches at an economy of 6.88.

Since Azar is a left-arm spinner, he will give depth in spin attack with the right-arm spinner Washington Sundar.

Predicted Playing XI Of Dravid XI

Shikhar Dhawan (Captain)

For Rahul Dravid’s playing XI, Shikhar Dhawan should be the skipper of the team. Moreover, the left-handed batsman will be a powerful opener. He has been a regular member of the national side in limited-overs cricket in the last 7-8 years.

In the Indian Premier League, Dhawan is the 2^nd highest run-getter with 5577 runs in 183 innings. He was the leading run-scorer in IPL 2021 with 380 runs in 8 innings.

Prithvi Shaw

Prithvi Shaw should be the other opener in Dravid XI. The right-handed batsman has emerged as a powerful pair to Shikhar Dhawan as an opener. In IPL 2021, the right-handed batsman was the 4th highest run-getter with 308 runs in 8 innings.

Shaw and Dhawan have a lot of experience while batting together as openers in T20. Hence, their pair will make a strong combination of openers in this team.

Devdutt Padikkal

Devdutt Padikkal should be inducted in Dravid’s playing XI at the no.3 batting spot. Although the 20-year-old youngster plays as an opener in IPL for RCB, he can also emerge powerful at the no.3 spot.

The left-handed batsman was the highest run-scorer for his team RCB in his debut edition in IPL 2020. In IPL 2021, he smacked an unbeaten century to show his might with the bat.

Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav should bat at the no.4 spot in this team. Over the years in IPL, the right-handed batsman has proved himself to be a worthy middle-order batsman with his consistent batting show for Mumbai Indians.

In IPL 2020, 2019, and 2018, he smashed 480, 424, and 512 runs respectively. Overall, he holds an average of 29.68 in IPL so far.

Ishan Kishan (Wicketkeeper)

Ishan Kishan smashed half-centuries during both his T20I and ODI debut this year. The left-handed batsman scored 59 runs in his ODI debut against Sri Lanka. His confidence while batting makes him a strong choice for a batsman at the middle order.

In IPL 2020, he smacked 516 runs in 14 matches with 4 half-centuries. In his first T20I match against England in March this year, Kishan hit a quickfire of 56 runs off 32 balls. Kishan will be a good choice of a wicket-keeper batsman in Dravid’s playing XI.

Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya should be the all-rounder in Dravid’s playing XI team. In limited-overs cricket, Hardik has been a regular player for the Indian national team in the last 3-4 years. In IPL too, he is an integral part of the Mumbai Indians franchise, who was part of the squad that won 5 titles.

In 87 IPL matches, the right-handed batsman has scored 1401 runs at an average of 27.47 and a fabulous strike rate of 157+. He has also picked 42 wickets. In 48 T20I matches, Pandya has piled up 474 runs in 32 innings and also picked 41 wickets.

Krunal Pandya

Krunal Pandya should be another player in Dravid’s playing XI. The left-arm spinner has only played limited matches in international cricket but in IPL, he has been a powerful all-rounder for Mumbai Indians.

Being a left-arm spinner, he will give more options to the team during the spin attack. Moreover, Krunal Pandya is an effective batsman so he will also come in handy while batting.

Yuzvendra Chahal

For the primary spinner, Yuzvendra Chahal will be a good choice in Dravid playing XI. Chahal has been a regular part of the national team in ODIs and T20Is in the last 304 years.

In IPL too, he has been a powerful spinner for Royal Challengers Bangalore. The right-arm spinner has picked 125 wickets in 105 games in IPL and has also picked 62 wickets in 48 T20I games.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar Kumar should lead the pace attack in Dravid’s playing XI. The right-arm pacer has a lot of experience in international cricket as well as IPL.

In T20 internationals, Bhuvi accounts for 45 wickets in 48 matches at an amazing economy of just 6.98. In IPL, he has picked 139 wickets in 126 games at an economy of just 7.31.

Deepak Chahar

Deepak Chahar should be another pacer in this team. With 18 wickets in 13 matches in his T20I career so far, the right-arm pacer has shown himself as a powerful bowler in T20I cricket.

He has also picked a hat-trick in T20Is in his short career so far, which displays his efficiency with the pace attack. Moreover, he is also the leading pacer bowler for Chennai Super Kings in IPL currently. In IPL 2021, he picked 8 wickets in 7 matches for CSK, picking 2 four-wicket hauls.

Navdeep Saini

Navdeep Saini should be another pacer in Dravid’s playing XI. Saini is one of the fastest bowlers for India currently with touching speeds of over 150 km/hr.

Bowling in 9 T20Is so far, the right-arm pacer has picked 13 wickets. In IPL, the RCB bowler has picked 17 wickets in 27 matches so far.