India T20 World Cup 2024 Squad Live Updates: Rohit Sharma, Ajit Agarkar, coach Rahul Dravid are likely to hold a meeting today to finalist the squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The deadline for sending a provisional squad list for tournament is nearing. Indian captain Rohit and chief selector Agarkar reportedly met informally in the national capital recently to discuss the squad composition.
As per reports, Agarkar flew into Delhi for Saturday’s IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals. It also presented him with a chance to take clarity with the T20 captain on the squad makeup.
There is very little possibility of a left-field selection and one option could be Mumbai Indians batter Tilak Varma, who is a flamboyant southpaw and can also bowl handy off-spin in case the opposition has more left-handers. With problems of plenty, there will be brainstorming over whom to pick and who misses the bus.
Rohit was confirmed as the captain earlier this year by BCCI secretary Jay Shah. There are multiple claimants for each spot in the playing XI meaning the selectors will have a tough task shortlisting ideal candidates/backups.
Sample this: With Rohit locked in as one opener, there are as many as seven quality options to partner him at the top of the batting order.
Here’s our 15-man squad: 1. Rohit Sharma (C), 2. Virat Kohli, 3. Suryakumar Yadav, 4. Rishabh Pant (WK), 5. Hardik Pandya, 6. Shivam Dube, 7. Ravindra Jadeja, 8. Kuldeep Yadav. 9. Arshdeep Singh, 10. Jasprit Bumrah, 11. Yuzvendra Chahal, 12. Shubman Gill, 13. Sanju Samson (WK), 14. Rinku Singh 15. Khaleel Ahmed.
India's likely T20 World Cup squad
Top order: Rohit Sharma (capt), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav
Middle and lower-middle order: Sanju Samson (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh
Spinners: Kuldeep Yadav
Fast bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan/Mohammed Siraj
Other contenders: KL Rahul, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Sandeep Sharma
While there has been a three-way battle for wicketkeeping slots, Finch picked Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson as his two keepers with KL Rahul being excluded from his 15-member touring party. Likewise, Finch also picked Hardik Pandya, who has been under fire following poor performances with Mumbai Indians in the ongoing season.
Contrary to reports suggesting that only one of Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh could be picked by the BCCI, Finch put his faith in both players; while Dube has been in exceptional form this season, Rinku is a T20I regular for the side since the last year's IPL.
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Bowling lineup
Finch has opted for a pace-heavy bowling attack for Team India at the T20 World Cup in the Americas. While Ravindra Jadeja finds a place in the squad alongside in-form left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav, Finch picked Avesh Khan as the fourth seamer alongside Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Mohammed Siraj.
Both Avesh and Siraj have had a quiet outing in the IPL this year; while the former has nine wickets in as many matches for the side, Siraj has only six wickets to show in nine games for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
India's T20 World Cup squad is likely to be announced on Monday.
The selectors are unlikely to go for players who are unproven at international level even though a few of them have made heads turn with their hitting in IPL 2024. The one bolter that might have been picked got injured. Much like consumers of the sport and pundits, the team management and selectors are believed to have been excited about Mayank Yadav's pace and accuracy. They would have likely punted on him, but his injury-prone body might have prevented that now.
The IPL, though, has served to prove the fitness of Rishabh Pant, who had been out of cricket since his horrific car accident in December 2022. Sanju Samson, however, is likely to be the first-choice wicketkeeper as India need a spin-hitter to pair with their top three who tend to get stuck against spin. Also, Jitesh Sharma's form hasn't been great and KL Rahul has been batting at the top of the order, which is crowded already. The top four of captain Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav was more or less decided even before the IPL began.
Hardik Pandya's bowling fitness could be a cause for concern for the selectors. When fully fit and in form, Hardik does what nobody else can in the country: bowl medium-pace and hit in the middle order. As such, he should be a certain starter, but he has been bowling only about two overs a match in the IPL and his pace has been down too. He still has a month to get into proper bowling rhythm and justify keeping Shivam Dube or Rinku Singh out of the XI.
