ICC World T20 Championships 2016 : The Indian kit

Team India launch new kit ahead of ICC World Twenty20 Championships

The Indian kit for ICC World T20 Championships 2016. (Photo: Twitter)

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The Indian men’s and women’s cricket teams will take the field in the upcoming World Twenty20 Championships wearing brand new kits which were unveiled by Nike on Thursday.

The design features a new collar which has a clear Asian influence, while four-way stretch pants includes articulated patterning on the knee to withstand aggressive play.

“Bold with a contemporary stripped motif, the kits express the excitement and responsibility the players feel when representing their country,” says Mithali Raj, captain, Women cricket team.

While commenting upon the new jersey Indian batsman Ajinkya Rahane said that donning the signature blue is a proud moment for a player representing the country.

“Wearing the kit and playing for the country is an overwhelming feeling, which is impossible to express in words. Whenever I put on the blue, the feeling is altogether different,” he said.

Both men and women, will be officially using the jersey from March 15.

All-round India clear favourites for World T20

 The hosts' superb recent form in T20Is has been due to consistency and the presence of several match-winners with both bat and ball

India's win-loss record in T20Is is much better than that of any other team in the last couple of years © ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The Indian team has been on a roll in T20Is in 2016: in ten matches, they have won nine and lost one. That one defeat was on a seaming deck against a young Sri Lankan pace attack, but either side of that defeat they have notched up some impressive results, winning three on the trot in Australia, taking revenge for that lone loss in Pune, and then going undefeated in the Asia Cup league games. In a format whose vagaries present a huge challenge to teams seeking consistent wins, the results that India have produced makes then firm favourites for the World T20, especially given that they are playing on home turf.

Since the beginning of 2014, India's win-loss record versus the top ten teams in T20Is is 13-5, which is by far the best - no other team has won as many, or lost as few matches as India have. The next best are New Zealand with a 10-7 record, while South Africa, Australia, and West Indies have all won a game or two more than they have lost.

India's numbers have been solid with both bat and ball in the last couple of years. Their run rate hasn't been the highest - in fact, five of the nine teams in the table below have done better - but India's bowling stats have been exceptional. Their average and economy rate are the best among all teams. They have been the only team with a sub-20 bowling average and an economy rate of less than 7.50.

T20I record since Jan 2014 (v top ten teams)

T20I record since Jan 2014 (v top ten teams)

Team	Mat	Won/ lost	Ratio	Bat ave	Run rate	Bowl ave	Econ rate
India	18	13/ 5	2.60	31.54	7.86	19.25	7.05
New Zealand	17	10/ 7	1.43	23.96	8.28	20.65	7.71
South Africa	20	11/ 9	1.22	32.34	8.27	21.07	8.17
Australia	17	9/ 8	1.13	24.20	8.49	26.79	7.96
West Indies	18	9/ 8	1.13	24.54	8.08	24.13	8.00
Sri Lanka	19	9/ 10	0.90	20.51	7.53	23.71	7.93
England	18	7/ 10	0.70	22.53	8.34	29.09	8.81
Pakistan	18	6/ 11	0.55	19.01	7.35	24.75	7.83
Bangladesh	14	4/ 9	0.44	19.10	6.81	25.33	7.50

Team	Mat	Won/ lost	Ratio	Bat ave	Run rate	Bowl ave	Econ rate
India	18	13/ 5	2.60	31.54	7.86	19.25	7.05
New Zealand	17	10/ 7	1.43	23.96	8.28	20.65	7.71
South Africa	20	11/ 9	1.22	32.34	8.27	21.07	8.17
Australia	17	9/ 8	1.13	24.20	8.49	26.79	7.96
West Indies	18	9/ 8	1.13	24.54	8.08	24.13	8.00
Sri Lanka	19	9/ 10	0.90	20.51	7.53	23.71	7.93
England	18	7/ 10	0.70	22.53	8.34	29.09	8.81
Pakistan	18	6/ 11	0.55	19.01	7.35	24.75	7.83
Bangladesh	14	4/ 9	0.44	19.10	6.81	25.33	7.50

With the bat, India have benefited from having two of the best in the format in their top three. Virat Kohli has been sensational, scoring 740 runs at an average of 82.22 and a strike rate of almost 135, while Rohit Sharma is the only other batsman to score 600-plus runs against the top ten teams in T20Is during this period. They are the two leading run scorers during this period, and their presence has given India's top three an irresistible combination of flair and solidity.

India's T20 bowlers have averaged under 20 and conceded runs at less than 7.5 an over in the last two years © BCCI

Thanks largely to those two, India have had 16 fifty-plus scores in 18 matches, and 26 scores of 30 or more. Kohli and Rohit have contributed 15 of the 16 fifty-plus scores, with the only other one coming from Shikhar Dhawan. Dhawan has been fairly ordinary during this period, averaging 20 at a strike rate of 118, but Kohli and Rohit have more than compensated for his failures.

While India have averaged almost one 50-plus score per game during this period, other teams have struggled to get one in two games. South Africa have ten from 20 games, Australia have nine from 17, West Indies nine from 18, Sri Lanka six from 19, and Pakistan three from 18. In terms of 30-plus scores, India have 26 from 18, again the most by any team. The prolific form of Kohli and Rohit also means India's top three have the highest average among all teams; it's often argued that average isn't a relevant stat in 20-over cricket, but for top-order batsmen it indicates solidity and consistency at the top of the order, and for India the high average means they usually have wickets in hand to make good use of the slog overs.

Team-wise stats for Nos. 1-3 in T20Is since Jan 2014 (v top ten teams)

Team-wise stats for Nos. 1-3 in T20Is since Jan 2014 (v top ten teams)

Team	Mat	Runs	Average	SR	30+ scores
India	18	1738	38.62	127.98	26
New Zealand	17	1500	34.88	140.97	24
South Africa	20	1801	33.98	136.64	24
Australia	17	1449	31.50	137.86	20
West Indies	18	1372	27.44	125.52	20
Zimbabwe	17	1236	25.22	122.25	17
Bangladesh	14	838	23.27	111.58	11
England	18	1194	22.96	128.52	16
Sri Lanka	19	1138	19.96	117.92	16
Pakistan	18	824	15.84	100.24	7

Team	Mat	Runs	Average	SR	30+ scores
India	18	1738	38.62	127.98	26
New Zealand	17	1500	34.88	140.97	24
South Africa	20	1801	33.98	136.64	24
Australia	17	1449	31.50	137.86	20
West Indies	18	1372	27.44	125.52	20
Zimbabwe	17	1236	25.22	122.25	17
Bangladesh	14	838	23.27	111.58	11
England	18	1194	22.96	128.52	16
Sri Lanka	19	1138	19.96	117.92	16
Pakistan	18	824	15.84	100.24	7

In the Powerplay overs, there are five teams that score quicker than India, but many of them tend to lose wickets in the middle overs. Australia have consistently impressive numbers through all stages, with an especially high scoring rate in the last five, while New Zealand's firepower is in evidence too. The numbers are fairly closely packed together, though Pakistan's poor stats in the Powerplays stand out.

Batting teams at each stage of an inngs, in T20Is since Jan 2014 (v top ten teams)

Batting teams at each stage of an inngs, in T20Is since Jan 2014 (v top ten teams)

Batting Team	First 6: Ave	RR	6.1-15.0: Ave	RR	Last 5: Ave	RR
Australia	33.76	8.27	29.75	8.64	17.33	10.23
Bangladesh	20.15	6.33	21.82	6.50	16.77	9.13
England	24.14	7.60	27.00	7.83	22.74	9.51
India	34.86	7.42	37.68	7.49	15.97	9.52
New Zealand	44.05	8.69	24.63	7.79	19.26	9.89
Pakistan	17.67	6.05	22.78	7.17	22.43	9.36
South Africa	40.41	8.08	36.18	7.80	12.89	8.72
Sri Lanka	20.02	7.02	24.57	7.04	11.92	8.52
West Indies	41.05	8.04	21.96	7.23	14.96	8.24

Batting Team	First 6: Ave	RR	6.1-15.0: Ave	RR	Last 5: Ave	RR
Australia	33.76	8.27	29.75	8.64	17.33	10.23
Bangladesh	20.15	6.33	21.82	6.50	16.77	9.13
England	24.14	7.60	27.00	7.83	22.74	9.51
India	34.86	7.42	37.68	7.49	15.97	9.52
New Zealand	44.05	8.69	24.63	7.79	19.26	9.89
Pakistan	17.67	6.05	22.78	7.17	22.43	9.36
South Africa	40.41	8.08	36.18	7.80	12.89	8.72
Sri Lanka	20.02	7.02	24.57	7.04	11.92	8.52
West Indies	41.05	8.04	21.96	7.23	14.96	8.24

Perhaps the bigger surprise than India's batting has been the manner in which their bowlers have performed over the last couple of years. Their overall economy rate of 7.05 is the best, and while the spinners have led the way with 66 wickets at a superb average and economy rate, the quicker bowlers haven't done badly either. Ashish Nehra has completely justified the selectors' faith in him, taking 12 wickets against the top ten teams in nine games at 18.83 and an economy rate of 7.29, while Jasprit Bumrah has been a revelation, taking 13 wickets at 15.92 and an economy rate of 6.36.

New Zealand average over 44 runs in the first six overs compared to India's 34 © Getty Images

The leader of the pack, though, has clearly been R Ashwin, with 31 wickets 13.12 and an economy rate of 5.88. With Ravindra Jadeja chipping in with 16 wickets as well, India have had most bases covered with the ball.

Pace and spin, team-wise, in T20Is since Jan 2014 (v top ten teams)

Pace and spin, team-wise, in T20Is since Jan 2014 (v top ten teams)

Team	Pace-Wkts	Ave	Econ rate	Spin-Wkts	Ave	Econ rate
India	46	22.47	7.23	66	19.60	6.55
Zimbabwe	39	35.48	9.07	45	26.00	7.64
South Africa	90	23.73	8.33	41	19.92	7.42
Pakistan	57	26.92	8.20	40	27.05	7.02
West Indies	64	28.76	8.94	38	21.15	6.24
Bangladesh	35	28.94	7.85	34	24.61	6.74
Sri Lanka	70	24.70	8.00	32	31.37	7.51
Australia	62	29.66	7.92	27	24.55	7.28
New Zealand	88	21.23	7.64	27	23.22	7.37
England	70	30.14	9.04	21	35.80	7.76

Team	Pace-Wkts	Ave	Econ rate	Spin-Wkts	Ave	Econ rate
India	46	22.47	7.23	66	19.60	6.55
Zimbabwe	39	35.48	9.07	45	26.00	7.64
South Africa	90	23.73	8.33	41	19.92	7.42
Pakistan	57	26.92	8.20	40	27.05	7.02
West Indies	64	28.76	8.94	38	21.15	6.24
Bangladesh	35	28.94	7.85	34	24.61	6.74
Sri Lanka	70	24.70	8.00	32	31.37	7.51
Australia	62	29.66	7.92	27	24.55	7.28
New Zealand	88	21.23	7.64	27	23.22	7.37
England	70	30.14	9.04	21	35.80	7.76

Breaking it up into the three stages of a 20-over innings, the Indian bowlers have consistently come up with excellent numbers at every stage, leading the economy charts in the first six and middle overs, and coming next only to South Africa in the last five. They have also been among the wickets in the middle overs, taking 43 at 24.30. Only South Africa have a better average in the middle overs.
With such complete numbers, it isn't surprising that India have racked up the sort of results they have recently in 20-over cricket. The format is one that's is most favourable for upsets, but even so, India's recent record - and the venue for the tournament - makes them clear favourites for the World T20.

Bowling teams at each stage of an inngs, in T20Is since Jan 2014 (v top ten teams)

Bowling teams at each stage of an inngs, in T20Is since Jan 2014 (v top ten teams)

Bowling Team	First 6: wkts	Ave	Econ	6.1-15.0: wkts	Ave	Econ	Last 5: wkts	Ave	Econ
Australia	29	25.41	7.22	31	35.70	7.63	29	22.68	8.65
Bangladesh	16	31.43	6.44	30	27.66	7.09	23	22.47	8.88
England	22	40.22	8.24	39	31.58	8.07	30	24.83	10.61
India	32	21.46	6.36	43	24.30	6.45	38	16.84	8.64
New Zealand	30	22.93	6.74	46	24.39	7.33	39	17.58	9.22
Pakistan	30	24.73	6.87	38	30.34	7.16	29	24.89	10.00
South Africa	22	48.22	8.84	56	22.91	7.57	53	11.49	7.92
Sri Lanka	28	30.28	7.43	39	31.07	7.40	35	19.22	9.34
West Indies	29	27.44	7.46	38	30.78	7.64	35	19.40	9.07

Bowling Team	First 6: wkts	Ave	Econ	6.1-15.0: wkts	Ave	Econ	Last 5: wkts	Ave	Econ
Australia	29	25.41	7.22	31	35.70	7.63	29	22.68	8.65
Bangladesh	16	31.43	6.44	30	27.66	7.09	23	22.47	8.88
England	22	40.22	8.24	39	31.58	8.07	30	24.83	10.61
India	32	21.46	6.36	43	24.30	6.45	38	16.84	8.64
New Zealand	30	22.93	6.74	46	24.39	7.33	39	17.58	9.22
Pakistan	30	24.73	6.87	38	30.34	7.16	29	24.89	10.00
South Africa	22	48.22	8.84	56	22.91	7.57	53	11.49	7.92
Sri Lanka	28	30.28	7.43	39	31.07	7.40	35	19.22	9.34
West Indies	29	27.44	7.46	38	30.78	7.64	35	19.40	9.07