Know the five big challenges Team India must fix before T20 World Cup

With just one week left for the T20 World Cup, Team India faces key selection, fitness, bowling, and fielding concerns despite series win over New Zealand.

The T20 series against New Zealand is over, and Team India now turns full focus towards the upcoming T20 World Cup, where it will defend the title at home. While the series win has boosted confidence, it has also exposed several issues that need urgent attention from head coach Gautam Gambhir and the team management.

With only a week remaining for the mega tournament, the Indian camp is dealing with five major challenges that cannot be solved overnight.

First, Sanju Samson’s form has become a concern. Though he delivered decent performances in T20 cricket earlier in 2025, Samson struggled throughout the New Zealand series. His inconsistency ahead of a World Cup is worrying, yet dropping him entirely is not a simple decision. At the same time, Ishan Kishan impressed with impactful innings. If Ishan is considered as a pure batter in the World Cup XI, the management must decide who makes way.

Also Read:Will Pakistan pay a heavy price for skipping the India Match in T20 World Cup 2026?

Second, fitness updates of Tilak Varma and Washington Sundar are crucial. Tilak has recovered well after surgery and is expected to rejoin the squad soon, but selecting the final combination remains tough due to strong bench strength. Washington Sundar, a valuable all-rounder suited for T20 cricket, is still awaiting fitness clearance. If he is ruled out, the team must quickly find a replacement for his role.

Third, the spin combination poses a dilemma. Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy are proven wicket-takers, but both lack batting depth. This increases pressure on team balance, raising doubts over whether both spinners can feature together in the playing XI.

Fourth, workload management of Jasprit Bumrah is under the spotlight. As one of the world’s best bowlers, Bumrah’s usage across matches needs careful planning.

Also Read:India-Pak T20 World Cup clash in doubt as PCB refuses to play, ICC issues fresh warning

Meanwhile, left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh requires more game time, but Harshit Rana has often blocked his opportunities, creating another selection headache.

Finally, fielding has emerged as a serious issue. Team India dropped several catches against New Zealand and had earlier conceded around 12 dropped chances in the Asia Cup, including five in a single match against Bangladesh. Improving catching standards before the World Cup is non-negotiable.

Overall, challenges are not unique to India, but only teams that address them effectively can lift the trophy.