Picking a combined India-Australia playing 11 for 2024 T20 World Cup ft. Jasprit Bumrah, Marcus Stoinis
India will take on Australia in the ICC Men's 2024 T20 World Cup Super 8 match at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St Lucia on Monday, June 24. The Group 1 match will begin at 8:00 PM IST and 10:30 AM local time.
Afghanistan's 21-run win over Australia has made qualification scenarios for semifinals in Group 1 rather interesting, with all four teams still in contention, although Bangladesh have only a slim mathematical chance. India are best placed with four points, but they would ideally like another victory to be completely assured of a place in the knockouts.
Australia must beat India on Monday to have a good chance of making it to the semifinals of the 2024 T20 World Cup. If they win against the Men in Blue and Afghanistan beat Bangladesh in their last Super 8 match, it will all come down to the net run rate. However, if India beat Australia and Afghanistan defeat Bangladesh, the Aussies will be knocked out of the competition.
As India and Australia prepare for the mega battle on Monday, we pick a combined XI of the two sides for the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Openers: David Warner, Virat Kohli
David Warner and Virat Kohli would be the openers in the combined India-Australia 2024 T20 World Cup XI. They would also form a left-right combination, which could trouble the opposition.
Warner is currently the leading run-getter for Australia in the tournament. In six innings, he has 172 runs to his name at an average of 34.40 and a strike rate of 140.98, with two half-centuries. The southpaw scored 56 off 51 against Oman and a crucial 53* off 35 balls in the 28-run win [DLS method] over Bangladesh.
Kohli has had a poor T20 World Cup so far. In five innings, he has only managed 66 runs, averaging 13.20 at a strike rate of 108.19. However, the experienced batter has found some form after a poor start. Kohli scored a run-a-ball 24 against Afghanistan and a rather fluent 37 off 28 versus Bangladesh.
Middle-order & all-rounders: Rishabh Pant (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Hardik Pandya
Rishabh Pant would be the keeper-batter in the combined India-Australia XI for the 2024 T20 World Cup. The left-hander has contributed 152 runs in five innings at an average of 38 and a strike rate of 135.71. Although he doesn't have a fifty to his name, Pant has chipped in with crucial contributions in almost all of India's matches. Against Bangladesh, he smashed 36 off 24 balls.
Suryakumar Yadav was dismissed for a two-ball six against Bangladesh. However, he scored two contrasting half-centuries before that in varied conditions to demonstrate his adaptability. The 33-year-old hit 50* off 49 against United States and a rollicking 53 off 28 against Afghanistan.
Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis and Hardik Pandya would be the all-rounders in the combined India-Australia XI, adding great versatility to the team. Maxwell overcame his poor batting form with a stubborn fifty in a losing cause against Afghanistan. He has continued to chip in with crucial wickets with the ball.
Stoinis has been Australia's best performer in the 2024 T20 World Cup by some distance. With the willow, he has scored two crucial half-centuries. The gifted cricketer has also made a significant contribution with his medium pace, claiming eight wickets at an economy rate of 7.30.
After a horror IPL, Pandya has lifted himself brilliantly in the ongoing World Cup. He scored a scintillating half-century in the win over Bangladesh. Before that, he chipped in with a crucial 32 against Afghanistan. With the ball, Pandya has been brilliant, claiming eight wickets at an economy rate of 6.47.
Bowlers: Pat Cummins (c), Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Adam Zampa
Pat Cummins is not leading Australia in the ongoing T20 World Cup. But with both Rohit Sharma and Mitchell Marsh failing to make the combined XI, the pacer is a good choice to lead the team. He has been amazing with the ball, claiming back-to-back hat-tricks. Overall, Cummins has nine wickets in four innings at an economy rate of 6.40.
Jasprit Bumrah has been absolutely exceptional for the Men in Blue with the ball in hand. In five innings, he has 10 wickets at an average of 6.50 and an unbelievable economy rate of 3.42. The seasoned right-arm pacer picked up 3-14 against Pakistan, 3-7 against Afghanistan and 2-13 versus Bangladesh.
Kuldeep Yadav and Adam Zampa would be the main spinners in the combined India-Australia 2024 T20 World Cup XI. Left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep has played only two matches so far, but has already claimed five scalps at an economy of 6.37.
Experienced Aussie leg-spinner Zampa is currently the second-leading wicket-taker in the tournament. In six innings, he has picked 13 wickets at an average of 11.23 and an economy rate of 6.08. The 32-year-old starred with 2-28 against England and 4-12 versus Namibia. He has also claimed two wickets each in Australia's last two games against Bangladesh and Afghanistan respectively.