T20 World Cup 2024 | Refining strategies: 5 lessons India can learn from 2022 T20 World Cup

India enters the World T20 tournament with more than just a desire to win every league match, wary of the haunting memories of their last World Cup final exit and the looming ‘chokers' label.

For Rohit Sharma and his men, it is an opportunity to mend the broken pieces and shed the weight of past failures. The concerns are valid, their last ICC trophy victory was back in 2013 under MS Dhoni's leadership.

The 2022 World Cup campaign for India, brimming with hope, ended in despair. The anticipation was sky-high, as it often is for cricket giants like India, but the journey was riddled with obstacles and unmet expectations.

From the start, India's batting, usually a stronghold, displayed vulnerability. The opening partnership failed to lay a strong foundation, leaving the middle order under immense pressure. Despite sporadic brilliance from individuals, the team struggled to build substantial partnerships or maintain momentum.

The absence of key players due to injury and poor form exacerbated India's challenges. Jasprit Bumrah's absence in the bowling attack was particularly felt, disrupting the balance and potency of the pace battery. While some emerging talents showed promise, the bowling unit's overall performance lacked consistency against quality opposition.

Tactical decisions, especially regarding selection and batting order, came under scrutiny as the tournament progressed. Questions arose about resource utilisation and the team's adaptability in different match situations. The conservative approach in batting, especially in crucial matches, raised doubts about India's ability to adapt to the fast-paced nature of T20 cricket.

India's tournament journey was marked by missed opportunities and unrealised potential. Despite flashes of brilliance, they fell short of expectations. The disappointment of another ICC event slipping away serves as a stark reminder of the challenges in cricket. As the team reflects on their performance, there's a pressing need to address shortcomings and prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Below are a few lessons India can learn from their failed T20 World Cup campaign in 2022:

1. India's batting dominance rested heavily on the formidable partnership between Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav. Kohli, once again, led the runs chart with an impressive total of 296 runs, maintaining a commendable average of 98.66. However, scrutiny arose regarding his strike rate, which stood at 136.40. In contrast, Suryakumar displayed sheer aggression, amassing 239 runs at an extraordinary strike rate of 189.68. Following their lead were Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul, contributing 128 runs each, albeit slightly behind the leading duo.
2. The decision to sideline leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, despite his Purple Cap achievement in IPL 2022, raised eyebrows. India's preference for Ravichandran Ashwin over him drew criticism. Chahal managed to secure only six wickets, three of which came against Zimbabwe. Interestingly, the leading wicket-taker of the 2022 T20 World Cup was a wrist-spinner, Wanindu Hasaranga of Sri Lanka, who scalped an impressive tally of 15 wickets.
3. India's cautious batting approach proved detrimental in the ICC tournament. While they managed three totals exceeding 170 runs against Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, and the Netherlands, they faltered against tougher opponents. Scores of 168/6, 160/6, and 133/9 against England, Pakistan, and South Africa respectively highlighted the challenges faced against stronger adversaries.
4. The Indian opening pair of Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul struggled to capitalise on Powerplay overs. Within the initial six overs, India maintained a modest scoring rate of just 6.02 runs per over, losing nine wickets and hitting only seven sixes. Skipper Rohit's individual performance was subdued, accumulating a mere 116 runs with a strike rate of 106.42. Meanwhile, Rahul's contributions against Pakistan, Netherlands, South Africa, and England amounted to scores of 4, 9, 9, and 5 respectively, indicating a challenging phase for the talented batsman.
5. India's fast bowling department faced significant challenges in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, sidelined due to injury during the tournament. While Arshdeep Singh showed glimpses of potential with ten wickets, stalwarts like Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami struggled to make notable impacts. However, India found solace in Hardik's stellar all-round performance. He contributed significantly with both bat and ball, claiming eight wickets and amassing 128 runs, highlighted by a blazing 33-ball 63 in the semi-final encounter.