5 strategies that the Indian team should adopt for the T20 World Cup

With the World T20 just round the corner, all the teams will be busy analysing their opponents and crafting their strategies in the few months ahead. Gone are the days when no one took the T20 World Cup seriously and every team will be striving hard to win the competition next year.India have a great chance to replicate their success in the 2011 World Cup as they will be playing on home soil. But there are a few things that they need to set straight in the months leading up to the competition.Here are five strategies that the Indian team should try to adopt in preparation of the T20 World Cup next year.

#5 Raina should bat at 3

Suresh Raina’s T20 acumen is second to none

In the last few ODI matches for India, Raina has been pushed further down the order and forced to don the role of a finisher. This is because Raina has the ability to go after the bowling as soon as he comes in to bat. The move has also allowed Dhoni to bat higher up the order.

In T20s, however, Raina's record at number 3 is impeccable. He has batted at the no. 3 slot consistently for the CSK over the years and done well. Raina has also emphasized how much he loves to bat at no. 3 because he can then ideally control the game.

"I love batting at No 3 as I can be positive and play my shots. When I scored a hundred against South Africa in West Indies (in 2010 World T20), I batted at number three. I love to dominate bowlers," Raina told the PTI back in 2013. We hope Raina gets a knock in at 3 leading up to the T20 World Cup.

#4 Find a reliable all-rounder

Pawan Negi has been waiting for his India chance for quite a few years

The importance of all-rounders in T20 cricket is well-known. India have however struggled in the recent past to find a specialist all-rounder ever since Yuvraj Singh went out of favour.

Neither Jadeja nor Binny has been able to grab the opportunities presented to them and it is time India tried out some youngsters who can be successful in this role. Given the nature of T20 cricket, it is the need of the hour that India finds an all-rounder who can bowl his quota of overs and deliver some lusty blows coming down the order.

The likes of Hardik Pandya, Pawan Negi and Deepak Hooda have impressed one and all with their maverick power-hitting in the IPL 8 and it won't be a bad idea to give them a few opportunities leading up to the T20 World Cup next year.

#3 Play 3 spinners

Axar Patel is one of India’s spin options

It is no secret that Dhoni loves to bowl his spinners in the middle overs to squeeze the opposition and prevent them from scoring fast. With his quips from behind the stumps, we know how well Dhoni can control the game with spinners bowling in tandem.

With none of the faster bowlers being consistent off late, India should look to exploit the conditions on the slow, turning pitches by consistently going in with three spinners. With Ashwin, Jadeja, Axar Patel, Harbhajan Singh and Karn Sharma all fighting for places, India should look to finalise their spinning trio ahead of the T20 World Cup.

#2 Open with Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane’s showing is under intense scrutiny while on Zimbabwe tour

Ajinkya Rahane's place in the ODI side has been in danger ever since Dhoni opted to bat at number 4. But in T20s Rahane should be a natural choice as he has been performing consistently for Rajasthan Royals over the years.

Most of Rahane's success for his franchise in the IPL has come at the top of the order and it won't be a bad idea at all to ask Rahane to open in the T20 World Cup. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli can together control the middle order giving Raina and Dhoni the license to go after the bowling thereon.

But Rahane will be under the scanner with the selectors having entrusted him with the responsibility of captaincy and his performance in the Zimbabwe series will be extremely crucial for him.

#1 The Dhoni-factor

MS Dhoni’s batting role will play big part in India’s fortunes

Dhoni has indicated in the recent past that he would like to be his old self again and play more freely. India would dearly love to see Dhoni's old aggressive avatar when he could come in to bat and change the complexion of the match within the matter of a few overs.

It will not be a bad idea to let Dhoni bat higher up the order so that he could dictate terms to the opposition. It will not be a bad idea to use Dhoni as a floater in the batting order and send him in depending on the match situation. That Dhoni has started batting at 4 in ODIs recently will serve him in good stead leading to the T20 Championship next year.