With the Cricket World Cup entering its business end, the BCCI selection committee will begin preparations for T20 World Cup 2024. For now, the India Cricket Team only has three series to prepare for the mega event in June. And it starts with the IND vs AUS T20 series immediately after the 50-over WC. With no Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and other senior players including Hardik Pandya, chief selector Ajit Agarkar’s focus will be on youngsters like Ruturaj Gaikwad and his Gold medal-winning squad in the Asian Games apart from Sanju Samson.
The squad will be announced after the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final next week.
With Suryakumar Yadav resting and Hardik Pandya injured, Ruturaj Gaikwad will likely lead India in the IND vs AUS T20 series.
IND vs AUS T20: What to expect in squad selection?
- With Ruturaj Gaikwad and Yashasvi Jaiswal certain to make it, all eyes will be on Sanju Samson.
- In an ideal situation, Samson should have led India as he is the most senior player among all having made his India debut back in 2015.
- However, Sanju Samson will still be in the squad as the wicketkeeper-batter as selectors will keep him in the running for the spot in June.
- Jitesh Sharma will be his backup.
- Among batters, Tilak Verma will be a certainty if he is fit. He will play as a No 3/4 batter with Sanju as a No 5 in the IND vs AUS T20 series.
- Rahul Tripathi will be the other batter to watch out for.
- Rinku Singh will be India’s designated finisher at No 6 in the IND vs AUS T20 series.
- Shivam Dube will be the batting all-rounder as his seam bowling could come in handy.
- Among pacers, Prasidh Krishna is likely to make the squad after completing World Cup assignment.
- Umran Malik, Avesh Khan and Arshdeep Singh will be in the running apart from Deepak Chahar as the pace battery.
- However, it is unclear whether selectors will recall Bhuvneshwar Kumar who has been out of the squad since New Zealand series last year. Bhuvneshwar has scalped 16 wickets in the Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
- Among spinners, Axar Patel will occupy the Ravindra Jadeja role. He missed the World Cup at the last moment due to an injury.
- Washington Sundar will be another big name besides Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravi Bishnoi.
Players to dominate discussions
However, there are a few players who will dominate discussions. The top-scorer of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Riyan Parag, will be one of the names selectors will have a discussion about.
The other player will be Mukesh Kumar. Team India management sees him as an all-format bowler. While he has had a lukewarm debut for India, it will be interesting to see whether selectors give him a go in IND vs AUS T20 series.
With Ravichandran Ashwin in the twilight of his career, it’s time to groom a backup and Washington Sundar is the perfect option. He is certain to get a go as India look at having an off-spinner who can score crucial runs down the order.
As mentioned before, selectors will have to take a call on Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The swing king hasn’t been in the plans. But as he has returned to form, Agarkar & Co could try him once again.
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