New Delhi: With only seven new faces compared to the 2022 squad, India’s selection for the 2024 T20 World Cup has raised eyebrows. This continuity comes despite calls for a revamp after the team’s disappointing semi-final exit in Australia.
The core group, featuring veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, remains largely unchanged. This suggests a similar batting order to 2022, with the exception of perhaps a couple of fresh faces. The likes of Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, and Hardik Pandya are likely to reprise their roles, with only Hardik showing real intent in the team’s last World Cup appearance.
The inclusion of youngsters Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shivam Dube offers a glimmer of hope for an injection of firepower at the top. However, the question remains: will their inclusion translate into significant impact? India desperately needs a more aggressive batting approach.
The squad composition, featuring four spinners, two seam-bowling all-rounders, and just three quicks, hints at India’s faith in spin bowling for the tournament. The selectors, led by Ajit Agarkar, opted for experience, with Yuzvendra Chahal returning over the in-form Ravi Bishnoi. Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav round out the spin contingent.
While Jadeja’s form has been inconsistent, Axar Patel has been a standout left-arm spinner. His economical bowling for the Delhi Capitals in the IPL has impressed, showcasing his ability to control different phases of the game.
Axar’s control in the powerplay overs could allow Rohit Sharma to deploy a spin-heavy attack. However, with the exception of Jasprit Bumrah, the pacers are a cause for concern. Both Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh have struggled for form in the IPL this year, leaking runs and lacking rhythm. They’ll need to rediscover their mojo quickly.
The surprise of the squad is the return of Rishabh Pant. Declared fit just before the IPL, he impressed with both bat and gloves, earning a well-deserved recall. Sanju Samson, another wicketkeeper-batsman enjoying a stellar IPL season with the table-topping Rajasthan Royals, provides valuable backup.
The return of experienced players inevitably meant some talented youngsters would miss out. Shubman Gill, despite a disappointing IPL so far, couldn’t find a place after his heroics with the Gujarat Titans last year. Similarly, Rinku Singh, known for his finishing prowess in domestic cricket, couldn’t translate his form into a World Cup spot.
While their IPL performances haven’t been ideal, using the IPL as the sole selection criteria would have resulted in several current squad members being overlooked.
This predictable squad selection leaves one question unanswered: can Rohit Sharma and his team finally walk the talk of playing with intent? Only time will tell if this familiar approach will deliver World Cup glory.
