The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee finally announced the Team India squad for T20 WC 2024 to be held in the West Indies and the USA.
The omission of KL Rahul from the squad left everyone stunned! Given his excellent performance in the 50-over World Cup held last year and his impressive display at Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the ongoing IPL extravaganza.
The squad has Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson as wicket-keeper batters, in place of KL Rahul.
Emerging talents like Rinku Singh and Tilak Verma did not get the selectors’ nod either, although the former is in the reserves.
Let’s Start Scanning Team India Squad for T20 WC 2024
Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar while addressing media persons alongside skipper Rohit Sharma emphasised that they wanted to strike a balance knowing that conditions in the Caribbean and the USA may be different from the ones in the ongoing IPL.
He also added that it was tough to leave out KL Rahul. Ajit reasoned that KL was batting at the top in the IPL. They wanted someone who could play a handy role in the middle order. It led to the exclusion of KL from the 15-man Team India Squad for T20 WC 2024.
Former India fast bowler further stated that it was a tough decision to leave out Rinku Singh and Shubhman Gill, although both of them are in the reserves.
Let’s begin scanning Team India Squad for T20 WC 2024, starting with the batters.
Rohit Sharma – A Selfless Player with High Strike Rate
T20s are about striking big from the word go. No matter the reputation of the opposition bowlers, openers will have to hit the top gear from the beginning. India Skipper Rohit Sharma fits the bill. He does not waste time smashing the bowlers. The gift of timing and elegance allows him to dominate bowlers effortlessly.
When on song, he can dispatch good deliveries to the stands, leaving even the opposition players in awe of his incredible batting display.
However, he is often found wanting against quality spinners, particularly on slow surfaces. The fact that he wants to stamp his authority over spinners the way he does over fast bowlers often brings about his failure. Maybe this WC, he will have to change his approach a little to consolidate the team’s position. No harm in seeing off a couple of overs from spinners and then putting them to the sword. The team will benefit.
Yashasvi Jaiswal – A Bowler’s Nightmare and the Perfect Opening Partner for Rohit
Yashasvi Jaiswal, a perfect addition to the Team India Squad for T20 WC 2024, matches Rohit Sharma shot for shot. Like Rohit, he starts smashing the bowlers from the word go. He can play square of the wicket, down the ground and use his wrists to place balls into the gaps immaculately.
The fact that he is technically solid too inspires confidence of a great beginning to India’s innings in the T20 WC. A combo of aggression and solid batting technique defines Yashaswi who has become the bowlers’ nightmare in just a year or so since playing for India.
Talent notwithstanding, Yashaswi must not allow the big tournament pressure to get the better of him. Often we see talented blokes failing to replicate heroics on the biggest stage of cricket I.e. World Cup.
Hope the team management insulates him from the undue pressure and lets him.play his natural game, which will likely advance Team India to the closing stage of the tournament.
Virat Kohli – The Most Sought-after Player in Team India Squad for T20 WC 2024
The world notices whatever Virat does. Such is the enigma of this player that drives everyone crazy – fans, cricket pundits and media persons. Despite being the top-run-getter in T20 WCs that have been staged so far, he often hits the headlines for a not-so-high strike rate. His strike rate in T20s has been around 130-135, which is not bad.
But given his high reputation, expectations of him are often higher. Many cricket pundits and top media persons have criticised his strike rate in T20s, with some of them even questioning Virat Kohli’s inclusion in the Team India Squad for T20 WC 2024.
Given his impeccable record and the ability to play according to the situation, there should never be a doubt over his place. He should continue in his merry way by being watchful early on before using the long handle in the slog overs to help the team set a daunting total or ensure a successful chase.
The 360-degree Batter Surya Kumar Yadav to Lit Up India’s WC Campaign
Surya Kumar Yadav needs no introduction for the massacre he creates for bowlers around the world with his breathtaking strokes all over the ground. The 360-degree batter keeps confusing the bowlers around with his subtle movement inside the crease. He makes bowlers look clueless. He amassed over 250 runs in the last T20 WC in 2022 with a strike rate hovering past 250.
But on slow wickets in the Caribbean and the USA, maintaining such a strike rate, particularly in the Super 8 round and further, should India qualify for the same, will be an uphill task even for Surya. He will have to find ways to score runs at a prolific pace. What he needs to do better is improve his record against Pakistan. He fails to fire against Pakistan somehow. Maybe June 9 will see Surya unleashing against arch-rivals Pakistan and continue his good form against other oppositions.
A Take on the Comeback Man Rishabh Pant in Team India Squad for T20 WC 2024
It was late December 2022 when a tragic road accident led to Rishabh Pant being severely injured and remained out of action for nearly one and a half years. It was his determination that saw him regain the fitness required for international cricket. Through this journey, he missed out the 50-over Cricket World Cup held in India during October-November 2023. In the ongoing IPL, he has amassed around 350 runs for his franchise Delhi Capitals at a strike rate of over 150 to go with 4 stumpings and 8 catches behind the wicket. He has set the IPL stage on fire, rightfully earning a comeback to the Indian team for T20 WC 2024. How Rishabh fares in the World Cup will likely decide his career going forward.
Sanju Samson – Another Wicketkeeper Batter Added to Team India Squad for T20 WC 2024
Sanju Samson is talent personified, which often makes selectors pick him for the Indian team. But the irony is that he rarely converts his talent into meaningful performances in international cricket. What fazes him is anyone’s guess. Given his imperious talent and the backing he receives from everyone, Sanju must not get overawed by the pressure that international cricket brings. It’s all about breaking mental blocks and treating each game on merit. Easier said than done, but that’s how one should approach international cricket. He can play fast bowlers and spinners with immaculate ease. Maybe this time around, Sanju will prove everyone wrong by scoring big should he find a place in the XI.
Hardik Pandya – The All-rounder Who Adds Balance to the Side
Another talented bloke but seems to be out of sorts in the ongoing IPL where he failed as captain as well as batter. His strategies seem to bring no results for Mumbai Indians, the franchise he represents now, before leading Gujarat Titans successfully for the last two seasons. Hardik, who is the vice-captain for the T20 WC 2024, will have to regain his touch as both batter and bowler if India are to win the elusive ICC tournament after more than 10 years.
Shivam Dube Earns India Call on the Back of Superb IPL Performances
Buoyed by impressive IPL performances for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Shivam Dube has rightfully earned a place in the Indian team for T20 WC 2024. He has set the ongoing IPL ablaze with 350 runs so far in 10 games at a strike rate of over 170 and an average of 50. He is a medium pacer too who could be handy on sluggish surfaces in the Caribbean and the USA. His inclusion in the XI will add more balance to the side. However, since it’s World Cup cricket, Shivam will have to learn quickly to adapt to the pressure situation he might face.
Ravindra Jadeja – The All-rounder Who Adds Experience to the Indian Team
Ravindra Jadeja is a rockstar with both bat and ball. Not to forget his agility on the field, stopping sharp singles and effecting run outs. He is a multidimensional cricketer in one package. He comes with enormous experience having played in ICC tournaments and delivering outstanding performances. His accurate line and length will likely annoy batters on slow surfaces. While batting, Ravindra can score those crucial 30 or 40 that change the course of the game in the team’s favour. Surely, he is a superb left-arm spin bowling all-rounder to the Team India Squad for T20 WC 2024.
Axar Patel – Another Left Arm Spin Bowling All Rounder Who Never Fails to Impress
Axar Patel, who missed out on playing the 50-over Cricket World Cup 2023, is set to make a mark in T20 WC 2024 with both bat and ball. Like Jadeja, he can score at a brisk pace and take wickets when the team needs it. With his height, he can extract extra bounce, which would come more into play as the tournament progresses. Given the situation, he can come up in the batting order too.
Kuldeep Yadav – The Chinaman Bowler in Team India Squad for T20 WC 2024
The new version of Kuldeep Yadav is a more mature one who now reads the situation and the batters’ minds before delivering. His Chinaman deliveries have become more lethal now with more revolutions in the air and off the surface. On turning wickets, Kuldeep can weave magic for the team. Notwithstanding the power hitters looking to upset his rhythm, he should continue in his merry way. Depending on the surfaces, Kuldeep will need to vary his pace.
Yuzvendra Chahal Finally Earns a Call from Selectors
Yuzvendra Chahal has finally made it to the Indian team after being constantly ignored for virtually no reason. That only shows the strength of the team where there is healthy competition. He has always been a smart operator, foxing batters with his incisive change of pace and trajectory. With this call-up, he joins his partner in crime Kuldeep Yadav to demolish the opposition in the middle overs.
A Make-or-Break Tournament for Arshdeep Singh
Arshdeep Singh, who performed well in the initial games he played for India, has somewhat lost his old touch. Opposition batters figured him out by smashing him, more so in the later stage of the game. His tendency to leak runs in the death overs is a concern for Team India. He will need to come up with some tricks to fox or contain batters in the later stage of the game.
Boom Boom Bumrah Would Like to Pile on Agony for the Opposition Batters
Jasprit Bumrah, the name that brings shivers down the batters’ spine, would love to continue shattering stumps with his inswing and reverse swing. With his international career spanning over 8 years, Bumrah is India’s strike bowler in T20 WC 2024. A bowler who can open the bowling, come as the first change or bowl those tight overs at the death overs is a critical member to the Team India Squad for T20 WC 2024.
Mohammed Siraj Can Trouble the Opposition Batters
If any bowler who has come a long way over the last five years, it’s Mohammed Siraj. He developed so many variations all these years, which helped him become a more potent bowler. He can swing the ball both ways and can bounce out the batters too. He needs to continue backing his strengths and delivering goods for Team India.
Wrapping Up
The announcement of the Team India Squad for T20 WC 2024 has gained buzz in the cricketing circles with cricket pundits expressing their opinions over the players who got selected and the ones who missed the World Cup bus. Whatever may be their opinions over the selection, they all will likely agree that India are one of the semi-finalists of T20 WC 2024 should they play to their strength. Tune in to zarooribaathai.in for valuable insights on sports, finance, beauty and health.
