T20 World Cup 2022: The last experiments India will make before its first T20I World Cup match

Over the past few years, the Indian cricket team has been committing errors, evidenced by the audience and fans. In 2019, it was the absence of in-form Ambati Rayudu; in 2021, it was an underperforming batting line-up; and in 2022, the unanswered questions can cost them hefty. 

Here are a few questions that the Indian team would have liked to experiment with before and have answers to them.

Testing Mohammed Shami as Jasprit Bumrah's replacement

Ever since the World Cup squad was announced, one of the major criticisms that selectors heard was about excluding Mohammed Shami from the main 15-member squad. However, fate has turned in a way that Jasprit Bumrah got ruled out, paving the way for Mohammed Shami to be included in the team. 

He was supposed to be tested in a series against Australia and South Africa but contracted Covid, leaving management with no option. He even couldn't be tested during warm-up matches against Western Australia. 

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma said, "He will practice with the team, whatever we have heard about Shami till now, it has been positive. He has had good 3-4 bowling sessions." 

However, he will undoubtedly be tested in official warm-up matches against Australia and New Zealand on October 17 and 19. 

The decision around Rishabh Pant vs Dinesh Karthik

The only puzzle surrounding India's batting line-up is the choice between Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pant. Dinesh Karthik has displayed sheer conviction that he can help India finish games on higher totals and thus makes his chances suitable. 

But everyone has seen what Rishabh Pant can offer when he is on the song, especially his test match performances in Australia. He is a big-match player and the only left-hand batter that team has for the middle order after Ravindra Jadeja got ruled out. The need for an attacking left-handed batter makes him also stand a chance for playing XI. 

"He's an X-factor because if you see from 1-6, there's no leftie batter. So, in one or two games, you could see him playing again," said Suresh Raina

"While Karthik can boast about being an excellent finisher, Pant's prodigious talent has seen him being backed by many," Ricky Ponting wrote in his column. 

He added, "I actually think that India's best team has both of these players. I don't care if they are both keepers but I think their batting prowess is enough. Rishabh in the middle order and Dinesh as a finisher, they look extremely dangerous to me."

If India gets Axar Patel as a left-arm all-rounder, then India will safely go with Dinesh Karthik as a finisher for the team. 

Who will ball the penultimate over? 

Till now, India was bowling with their experienced pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the penultimate over in the absence of spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. But his skills for death overs came under scrutiny, and harsh criticism after the bowler failed to defend 10-plus runs in the penultimate overs of the Asia Cup and the match against Australia to follow. 

With Harshal Patel struggling to control runs since he made a comeback, who will ball the crucial penultimate over in the World Cup India remains a central unanswered question.