It’s time for another World Cup after heartbreak in Ahmedabad in November. Ajit Agarkar-led BCCI Selection Committee will name a 20-member squad including five standbys for T20 World Cup 2024 this weekend. While most of the spots are sealed, there are backups that selectors have to take a call on. And Sanju Samson will once again dominate discussions inside and outside the boardroom.
The BCCI Selection Committee will meet on April 28 or 29 in Mumbai to pick the squad. Chairman of the selection committee Ajit Agarkar will likely have a chat with India captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid.
No surprises
Despite talking a lot about a new approach and an overhaul in the T20 side after the semifinal exit in T20 World Cup 2022, there will be no surprises.
Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya apart from Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah will be the core of the team. However, there could be surprises in terms of players missing out.
Sanju Samson once again finds himself in a difficult spot despite performing well in IPL 2024. Samson has scored 276 runs at an average of 55.20 at a strike rate of 155.06. With KL Rahul also returning to form with 286 runs in 7 innings at an average of 40.86 and 143.00, he will give Sanju a tough fight for the reserve wicketkeeper’s slot. Rishabh Pant is all set to don the big gloves.
There is also Dinesh Karthik who has found his groove in IPL 2024 after a poor run of form last year. Karthik has been explosive as the finisher and that could force selectors to have a relook at the 38-year-old. DK has scored 251 runs at 62.75 average and 196.09 strike rate in IPL 2024.
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Players who are fighting for spots
- Yashasvi Jaiswal vs Shubman Gill
- KL Rahul vs Sanju Samson vs Dinesh Karthik
- Axar Patel vs Yuzvendra Chahal
- Arshdeep Singh vs Mukesh Kumar
Extended squad
The good news for players is that BCCI will carry a larger squad to the USA and West Indies for the T20 World Cup 2024. Instead of an 18-member squad including three travelling reserves, the India Cricket Team will have 20 players. Of them, 5 will be reserves.
However, despite exceptional IPL performances, not many can break into the squad for the T20 World Cup. Riyan Parag, Ashutosh Sharma, Abhishek Sharma and Mukesh Yadav may have to wait for a chance to get into the India squad. They are likely to get the nod for the Zimbabwe tour after the World Cup or the Sri Lanka tour.
Predicted India T20 World Cup squad
- Rohit Sharma (C)
Shubman Gill
Virat Kohli
Suryakumar Yadav
Hardik Pandya (VC)
Rishabh Pant (WK)
Rinku Singh
Ravindra Jadeja
Kuldeep Yadav
Yuzvendra Chahal
Jasprit Bumrah
Mohd Siraj
Arshdeep Singh
Axar Patel
Sanju Samson (WK)
Shivam Dube
Axar Patel
Avesh Khan
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Ravi Bishnoi/ Mukesh Kumar
