Image Source: PTI
[Saba Sports News] The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) unveiled India’s 15-member squad for the forthcoming T20 World Cup 2024 on Tuesday, April 30. Set to be held in June across the West Indies and the USA, the squad sees Rohit Sharma retaining his captaincy, with Hardik Pandya named as the vice-captain. Despite earlier speculations regarding Virat Kohli’s inclusion, the former skipper secures his spot, aiming to aid India’s quest for the ICC silverware after an 11-year gap.
Rishabh Pant, making a return to professional cricket during the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 after a 14-month hiatus, earns his place alongside Sanju Samson as the wicketkeeping options. However, notable omission includes the experienced KL Rahul.
Shivam Dube and the seasoned Yuzvendra Chahal secure their spots following consistent performances in IPL 2024. Yashasvi Jaiswal stands as the sole specialist opening batter besides skipper Rohit, while Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Mohammed Siraj lead the pace department.
The spin-bowling all-rounders feature Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, with Kuldeep Yadav joining Chahal as the frontline spinner, hinting at a potential ‘Kul-Cha’ reunion during the tournament. Alongside the primary 15, the Rohit Sharma-led side includes four reserve players: Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, and Avesh Khan.
Among the reserves, Rinku Singh might consider himself unlucky despite impressive T20I statistics, having scored 356 runs at a remarkable average of 89 and a striking rate of 176.24. However, his limited opportunities in IPL 2024 due to the stellar form of Kolkata Knight Riders’ top-order batters hindered his chances to showcase his prowess.
India Squad for T20 World Cup 2024: Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj Reserves: Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Avesh Khan