The Indian cricket team’s 15-member squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 is likely to be finalised by the end of April in order to stick with the ICC’s May 1 cut-off date for the provisional roster. According to reports, captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh are certainties in India’s T20 World Cup squad.
The remaining five slots will be finalised based on the player’s IPL 2024 performance in the first four weeks of the ongoing T20 tournament. A BCCI source told news agency PTI that the national selection committee is unlikely to include any new player for the T20 World Cup.
“There would not be any experimentation or left-field selections. All those who have played for India and have done well consistently in T20 Internationals and the IPL will be rewarded,” the BCCI official was quoted as saying to the news agency.
It is also reported that captain Rohit Sharma and former skipper Virat Kohli could open for India at the upcoming T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the United States starting from June 2.
With the IPL 2024 already witnessing some impressive individual performances from Indian players, fans and experts are still debating on the back-up opener, second-choice wicketkeeper, one finisher slot in the middle-order and the back-up spinner.
With the marquee ICC tournament fast approaching, we pick the remaining five slots from the 10 contenders to select the final 15.
Shubman Gill vs Yashasvi Jaiswal
The two young cricketers are expected to compete for the back-up opener’s slot. While Rohit and Virat are the automatic selections, Shubman Gill is likely to be preferred over Yashasvi Jaiswal on his current form. GT captain Gill has been in good form in IPL 2024, having scored 263 runs in seven matches, including two fifties. On the other hand, RR opener Jaiswal has struggled in the ongoing T20 tournament with just 121 runs in seven games.
Second choice wicket-keeper
After his brilliant comeback in the IPL following a near-fatal car crash, DC captain Rishabh Pant has almost sealed his place as first-choice wicket-keeper at the upcoming T20 World Cup. Meanwhile, India is expected to pick another wicket-keeper in the 15-member squad. Sanju Samson and KL Rahul are the contenders to be the second-choice wicket-keeper. However, Sanju has been in better form than Rahul in IPL 2024 so far. While Sanju has amassed 276 runs in seven matches, Rahul has 204 runs. Based on the current form, Sanju could be picked in the final 15.
Rinku Singh vs Shivam Dube
If the national selection committee opts to go with Virat and Rohit as openers, and Jaiswal and Gill are also included, one among Rinku Singh and Shivam Dube could miss out from India’s 15-member squad. As finishers they are capable of add much-needed firepower down the order. Rinku and Shivam have been in great form for the Indian cricket team and their respective franchises in the IPL. While CSK’s Shivam has hogged the limelight, having scored 242 runs in IPL 2024 at a strike rate of over 160, KKR’s star finisher Rinku has scored 83 runs at a strike rate of 162.74 and has looked in great touch with the bat in his limited opportunities.
Yuzvendra Chahal vs Axar Patel vs Ravi Bishnoi
One of the three will be selected as the third-choice spinner with Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav being certainties. Either, Yuzvendra Chahal or Ravi Bishnoi could bring in variety as the only leg-spinner in the squad. However, Chahal is likely to be the preferred choice over Bishnoi on current form. The Rajasthan Royals leg-spinner has found his mojo and is the second-highest wicket-taker in IPL 2024 with 12 wickets in seven matches. LSG’s Ravi Bishnoi has picked just four wickets in the ongoing T20 tournament so far. With Jadeja in the squad, Axar’s inclusion looks bleak.
Arshdeep Singh – Avesh Khan
With Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj almost certain, India will pick one more pacer in their final 15. Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan are expected to compete for this spot. Arshdeep Singh is expected to be the preferred choice as the left-arm pacer brings more variety to the Men in Blue’s bowling department. Representing Punjab Kings, Arshdeep has already bagged nine wickets in seven IPL 2024 matches. For LSG, Avesh Khan has been a wicket-taker with seven scalps in as many matches. However, Avesh will need to do more and be more economical to pip Arshdeep in India’s final 15-member squad.
India’s probable squad for T20 World Cup 2024: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh
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