The final week of April is when the Indian cricket team for the 2024 T20 World Cup is anticipated to be revealed.
The national selection committee is unlikely to call up any rookie IPL performers for the forthcoming T20 World Cup in the Americas, but a couple of tried-and-true faces may be disappointed when the squad is announced at the end of this month. With the ICC mandating that the provisional 15-member squad be announced by May 1, Ajit Agarkar and his colleagues will have some simple choices to make if every member of the team is fit.
“No experimenting or unexpected choices would be made. A BCCI insider, who wished to remain anonymous, told PTI, “Everyone who has represented India and performed well in T20 Internationals and the IPL will be rewarded.”
Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal are both considered strong contenders, but only one of the top two finishers—Rinku Singh of the Kolkata Knight Riders and Shivam Dube of the Chennai Super Kings—will advance if both of these contenders are chosen for the last 15.
Sanju Samson may have competition from Jitesh Sharma, KL Rahul, and Ishan Kishan for the second wicketkeeper position, which is another position that may be very tight.
It is challenging for the selectors to assess Rahul and Kishan’s impact lower down the order because they bat at the top of the order and haven’t attempted middle-order batting in this IPL yet.
There is currently no uncertainty about Hardik Pandya’s selection, despite concerns about his bowling fitness. Like him, Virat Kohli’s presence is merely ceremonial.
The other players that are automatically selected are Rohit Sharma, the captain, Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, and Kuldeep Yadav. If eligible, these ten names will undoubtedly travel across the Atlantic.
It is acknowledged that Siraj has been playing frequently and needs workload management, thus RCB is giving him a break.
Although Jaiswal has been a huge discovery for Indian cricket, the selection committee may not be willing to give up on him simply because of a few poor IPL performances. Gill has scored more runs than Jaiswal.
In a mainly unidimensional top order, it is also interesting to be the only left-hander inside the top four.
But if Gill scores enough runs, the selection committee won’t be able to accommodate both and will have to choose between Shivam and Rinku from the 15.
Axar Patel, a useful batsman in addition to being an accurate left-arm spinner, Yuzvendra Chahal, who hasn’t participated in a T20 World Cup match in his nine-year international career, and Ravi Bishnoi, who plays for the Lucknow Super Giants, could potentially vie for the position of reserve spinner.
Chahal has bowling ability that is far superior to the other two, but his habit of leaving key squads empty-handed raises serious doubts about whether or not he will be included in the June showpiece.
An intriguing perspective was provided by a broadcaster and former international player. The ‘Impact Player’ regulation, essentially an enhanced ’12-a-side’ cricket match, has increased IPL attendance but decreased Indian cricket. Because he can bowl, a half-fit Hardik Pandya also has premium value because it has eliminated the idea of an all-rounder,” he said.
Would MS Dhoni, rather than Ruturaj Gaikwad, be able to afford to bowl Dube as the CSK’skipper’ if there was no Impact Player rule? Selectors are unaware of Dube’s bowling history.
“In a same vein, Rahul Tewatia, who was once a useful leg-break bowler and is now a decent finisher, is out of the running. He is no longer a bowler because he is a “Impact Player.” Who is it hurting? The national team “That’s right,” he said.
Players like Riyan Parag, Mayank Yadav, Abhishek Sharma, and Harshit Rana have all done well, but it’s known that the selection committee would prefer to take a more gradual approach by introducing them through bilateral cricket rather than testing them in a crucial World T20 match.
These young men will be eligible for their India debuts during the two white-ball series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. Nitish Reddy, an all-rounder who bowls seam and was a member of the India Emerging team that went to Sri Lanka the previous year, might take the same route.
It will be fascinating to watch if the BCCI arranges for players like Akash Madhwal, Harshit Rana, and Mayank Yadav to be selected as net bowlers, since this will also provide them with good exposure.
The expected 20 players (15+5 standbys) in the running:
(6) Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rinku Singh All-Rounders are specialist batters.
(4): Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel.
Specialist Spinners (3): Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi.
Wicketkeeper-batter (3): Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul and Sanju Samson.
Pacers(4): Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan.
