Predicting India's 2016 World T20 Squad

The 2016 ICC World Twenty20 is less than a year away, meaning teams are already planning ahead for the tournament.

India—the inaugural champions back in 2007—will be hosting the event for the first time.

They will be hoping to go one better than in 2014, when they lost to Sri Lanka in the final in Mirpur, Bangladesh.

A squad shorn of several regulars completed a 1-1 series draw in the format with Zimbabwe on Sunday, with the pair of fixtures offering a chance for some of the fringe players to impress.

We have gazed into our crystal ball in an attempt to predict the 15-man squad the hosts will hope can carry them to glory next year.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni remains India's limited-overs captain, although he offered to step down after the one-day series loss in Bangladesh.

The wicketkeeper-batsman may see the World Twenty20 as the ideal finish to his time in charge, but, although he will be nearly 35 by the time the event it is over, he could still carry on playing in the shortest format.

Cool, calm and collected, whether he's at the crease or in charge on the field, Dhoni has a T20 average of 33.96 but has never made a half-century for India.

Shikhar Dhawan has a disappointing record for India in his six Twenty20 appearances to date—he averages just 16.83.

However, the selectors have kept faith with the left-handed batsman through lean times in the past, so there is no reason to think he will be overlooked for a major tournament.

A superb timer of the ball at the top of the order, the 29-year-old has a T20 strike rate of 120.10 in domestic action.

Rohit Sharma has batted everywhere from one to seven in the order for India in Twenty20 cricket. However, he is best employed as an opener.

The right-hander is the only batsman to have made two scores of 200 or more in international 50-over cricket.

Although his last appearance in a T20 for his country came back in April 2014, it would be surprising if he isn't named in India's team for the opening game of the tournament next year.

He has helped his cause with 482 runs for Mumbai Indians in the 2015 Indian Premier League season.

In the absence of some of India's senior players, Ajinkya Rahane captained his country during the limited-overs tour to Zimbabwe.

The right-hander took the responsibility on his shoulders and also opened in the two Twenty20 games, making 33 and four. 

However, he is a batsman who can be used in a number of positions in the order.

Rahane had an excellent season in this year's Indian Premier League, scoring 540 runs at an average of 49.09 for the Rajasthan Royals.

India's Test captain, Virat Kohli proves that there is a place in the hurly burly world of Twenty20 cricket for a classical batsman.

The 26-year-old has an excellent record for his country in the shortest format—he averages 46.28 and has made nine half-centuries in 26 innings.

He is yet to reach three figures in either domestic or international T20 action, with his highest score for India being 78 not out, made against Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in 2012.

Suresh Raina has made his name in limited-overs cricket. He has already played 218 ODI games for India, while only Mahendra Singh Dhoni has appeared in more international T20 fixtures.

A left-handed batsman who likes to hit to leg, the 28-year-old is the only Indian batsman to have scored an international century in the 20-over format.

He is also a useful bowling option with his right-arm off-spin, making him an integral part of his country's plans for 2016.

Robin Uthappa is selected as the reserve batsman because of his versatility.

The right-hander is a clean hitter of the ball and could be used anywhere in the order—it also helps his cause that he can keep wicket, a role he performed on the tour to Zimbabwe.

The 29-year-old made his Twenty20 debut for India in 2007 but has been sporadically used since then.

Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will be a key player for India, considering the surfaces are likely to suit slow bowlers.

He has taken 25 wickets in 26 T20 appearances for his country, though only six of those games have been on home soil. 

His economy rate for Chennai Super Kings in this year's Indian Premier League was an outstanding 5.84.

Ashwin can also chip in with runs down the order—it should not be forgotten that he has two Test centuries to his name.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar's success at the highest level shows you don't just need raw pace to take wickets in limited-overs cricket.

The seamer has taken 13 wickets in his 11 Twenty20 outings for India and has also managed to go at only 6.17 runs per over.

Able to swing the ball both ways, Kumar—who missed much of this year's Cricket World Cup through injury—conceded just 48 runs from his eight overs in the series against Zimbabwe.

With a bustling run-up and an easy action, Mohammed Shami is quick enough to keep opposing batsmen honest.

He is also able to bowl an excellent yorker, making him a strong candidate to bowl at the death.

The only concern for India will be the 25-year-old's fitness. He played throughout the Cricket World Cup with a left knee injury, per Sidharth Monga of ESPN Cricinfo.

He was sidelined for the entire Indian Premier League season and has since undergone surgery to correct the issue.

Mohit Sharma made the most of his call-up to India's Cricket World Cup squad, forcing his way into the XI having only been summoned at the last minute to replace the injured Ishant Sharma.

A right-arm seamer who has yet to play Test cricket, the 26-year-old has a reputation for being a wicket-taker in T20 action.

He has taken 74 wickets in 63 appearances at domestic level, including 14 in this year's Indian Premier League. 

Stuart Binny is a three-dimensional cricketer who could perform a number of roles for India in the format.

His batting is easily good enough to see him come in at six or seven in the order, while his bowling adds depth to the attack.

The 31-year-old—son of former India international Roger Binny—could even be used up front with the ball, meaning India could field a balanced attack that includes three seamers and two slow bowlers.

All-rounder Axar Patel is picked ahead of Ravindra Jadeja, a reward for his performances not only in the Indian Premier League, but also on the short tour of Zimbabwe.

A left-arm spinner, the 21-year-old's economy rate in domestic Twenty20 action stands at an impressive 6.65 runs per over.

He picked up four wickets in the two-match series against Zimbabwe and, although he has yet to do much at the highest level, he does boast a first-class average of 42.25 with the bat. 

Leg-spinner Karn Sharma missed out on the tour to Zimbabwe through injury, though the fact he was selected in the first place shows he is firmly in the selectors' thoughts.

A fractured finger denied him the chance to represent his country again, having so far appeared in one Test, two one-day games and a solitary Twenty20 fixture.

He did not have a great season for Sunrisers Hyderabad—picking up 10 wickets in 14 matches at an economy rate of 8.33—but he does turn the ball in the opposite direction to first-choice spinner Ravi Ashwin.

A surprise selection perhaps, but Ashish Nehra warrants a place in India's squad for two reasons.

First, he was outstanding for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League this year.

The left-arm paceman took 22 wickets in 16 matches for his franchise, including picking up figures of four for 10 against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

The other justification for picking a bowler who is now 36 is that he would bring variation to the seam attack. On flat wickets, India might need something different than just a battery of right-arm seamers.

With the sheer depth of talent in Indian cricket, there were always going to be a group of players who were unfortunate to miss the cut.

Ravindra Jadeja has been a staple of his nation's one-day plans in recent years, but his Twenty20 record at the top level is not particularly impressive.

He has a batting average of just 9.33 and a strike rate with his left-arm off-spin of 31.1.

Varun Aaron could easily have found a spot in the squad as a pace-bowling option, but India will likely lean more heavily on spinners in their own back yard.

Ambati Rayudu was strongly considered in place of Uthappa for the extra batting berth, but he missed out due to the latter's ability to be slotted in anywhere in the order.

Of the younger generation, seamer Sandeep Sharma, wicketkeeper Sanju Samson and batsman Shreyas Iyer, who rose to prominence in the Indian Premier League in 2015, all fell on the wrong side of the cut line.

So too did Harbhajan Singh, a wily off-spinner who has fought his way back into the national team of late. However, there was no room for him in the final 15.

Would any of the honourable mentions have made it into your final squad? Feel free to air your views via the comments section.

All stats used in the slideshow were from ESPN Cricinfo and IPLT20.com