Hardik Pandya vice-captain, no KL Rahul in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad
Rohit Sharma will lead a 15-man T20 World Cup squad and Hardik Pandya will be its vice-captain, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) said in a statement on Tuesday, April 30.
Sanju Samson and Yuzvendra Chahal were rewarded for their stellar IPL performances while Rinku Singh and KL Rahul were two of the biggest misses.
Virat Kohli, as expected, made the 15-man squad along with young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal. Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was named in the T20I squad after his heroic return to competitive action in the IPL. Pant was not a regular in the T20I mix even before he suffered the car crash in December 2022. However, his stellar show with both bat and gloves, scoring 398 runs in 11 matches.
Meanwhile, Sanju Samson, who missed the ODI World Cup squad last year, was rewarded for his stellar run in IPL 2024. The Rajasthan captain has been picked ahead of KL Rahul, who was also in contention.
Hardik Pandya, who has had a tough run in IPL 2024 as MI captain, has been backed to do the job as Rohit Sharma’s deputy. Hardik led India in 16 matches when Rohit Sharma was not playing T20Is to focus on the build-up to the ODI World Cup last year. India also have picked seam-bowling all-rounder Shivam Dube, who has been in blistering six-hitting form for CSK in IPl 2024.
INDIA’S T20 WORLD CUP SQUAD HIGHLIGHTS
Top-order options: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
4 Spinners, two wrist-spinners and two finger spinners.
Only 3 specialist fast bowlers.
Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson picked ahead of KL Rahul.
Rinku Singh misses out despite consistent form, Shivam Dube in.
Hardik Pandya named Rohit Sharma’s deputy.
The BCCI also confirmed that chief selector Ajit Agarkar and captain Rohit Sharma will meet the press on Thursday, May 2 from the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai.
India Squad for T20 World Cup
Rohit Sharma (c), Yashashvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav. Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (wk), Hardik Pandya (vc), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal. Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.
India will open their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign against Ireland on June 5. They will then face arch-rivals Pakistan on June 9 and then face USA and Canada on 12 and 15 in their group-stage matches.