NEW DELHI, Apr 30: Promising wicket-keeper batsman KL Rahul has not been able to find a place in India’s T20 World Cup team while Rishabh Pant and veteran spinner Yuzvendra Chahal will be making a comeback after prolonged absence in the 15-member Indian squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 cricket tournament to be held in the USA and the West Indies in June.
Rohit Sharma will lead the team with Hardik Pandya retained as his vice-captain. Yashasvi Jaiswal has been included as the opening option while Shivam Dube has been rewarded for his brilliant form in the IPL 2024.
The BCCI on Tuesday announced the provisional Indian squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup. The BCCI announced the squad after a meeting between secretary Jay Shah and chief selector Ajit Agarkar in Ahmedabad.
Arshdeep Singh has been added to the pace department along with Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah. Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson are the wicket-keeping options while Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja are the all-rounders and Kuldeep Yadav the other spinning option. Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav will be the specialist batters.
Samson, who has had a good IPL both as a batter and captain for Rajasthan Royals, was included as the second wicketkeeper-batter behind Rishabh Pant, piping the likes of K.L. Rahul and Ishan Kishan. Hard-hitting batter Shivam Dube also made the cut on the back of a strong IPL showing.
Leg-spinner Chahal, who last played for India in August 2023, is the second wrist spinner in the team alongside Kuldeep Yadav. The selectors decided to show faith in Yashasvi Jaiswal, who had a slow start in the IPL but regained his touch recently for Rajasthan Royals.
Shubman Gill and Rinku Singh were also among the major exclusions from the 15-member squad but both cricketers were included in the reserve list. Fast bowlers Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh Khan also found a place in the reserve list and they can find a place in case of an injury or a change in strategy.
This will also be the first international competition for Rishabh Pant who has been missing in action since his near-fatal car accident in 2022. The wicket-keeper batter has performed well in the IPL 2024 till now and his show for Delhi Capitals has earned him a spot in the T20 World Cup 2024 squad.
India will begin their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign against Ireland on June 5 in New York before facing Pakistan in a much anticipated encounter at the same venue on June 9. India will play USA and Canada on June 12 and 15 respectively.
India’s squad for T20 World Cup 2024:Rohit Sharma (C), Hardik Pandya (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah.
Reserves: Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh Khan.
(Manas Dasgupta)
