NEW DELHI: The BCCI’s Ajit Agarkar-led national selection committee went largely with tried and tested choices while announcing the Indian team on Tuesday for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the US and Caribbean in June.
In the eagerly debated wicketkeeper-batter slot, both Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson have made it to the squad of 15. The in-form Shivam Dube, who has been in sizzling form with the bat for Chennai Super Kings in the middle overs, has also been picked.
Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal also makes a comeback, no doubt on the basis of his recent IPL performance. Rohit Sharma, as expected, leads the team while Hardik Pandya has been named his deputy. It is understood the selectors wanted more attacking options in the middle overs, meaning there was no place for the seasoned KL Rahul.
One surprise omission is that of Rinku Singh, arguably India’s best finisher in the format over the past year. Rinku only finds a mention in the list of reserves, which also includes Shubman Gill and backup pacers Avesh Khan and Khaleel Ahmed.
As reported by TOI on April 29, there were few surprises in the main 15-member squad since the team management and selectors decided not to be overtly swayed by IPL form. The seam-bowling unit also retains an expected look, with Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj being safe choices. Pandya and Dube are also available with their seam-bowling abilities if required.
The spin attack wears a beefier look, with both allrounders Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel finding a place, along with the return of the long-discarded ‘Kul-Cha’ pairing of leggies Kuldeep Yadav and Chahal.
This is the first ICC tournament since the 2019 World Cup that both wrist spinners have been included in the team. Chahal was part of the last T20 World Cup in 2022 but didn’t get a game. He looked like falling out of favour with the emergence of Ravi Bishnoi, who has missed the cut this time.
It is learnt that Rohit has been pushing for Chahal for his wicket-taking abilities in the middle overs.
“The team management is clear that it wants attacking options in the middle overs. Bishnoi has good defensive skills but Kuldeep and Chahal have the experience and ability to take wickets. There were discussions around having another regular pacer in the 15 at the expense of a spinner. But Hardik’s presence as a seam-bowling allrounder and the possibility of the pitches at the World Cup getting slower prompted the selectors to go for Chahal,” the source said.
As for the batting lineup, Rohit and Yashasvi Jaiswal are expected to open, though TOI understands Virat Kohli too has been kept in mind as a possible opening option.
“Kohli has been opening for RCB for some time now. If the team management wants to add more muscle in the middle order, then Kohli can go up the order with Rohit,” a source said.
With the selectors not needing to opt for a third opener, both Rahul and Gill missed out. The selectors went with Pant and Samson, who can both play enforcers in the middle order instead. For the selectors, it was a difficult toss-up between Dube and Rinku.
Dube’s recent form and his ability to roll his arm over with some seam-up bowling tilted the scales in his favour. Pant and Dube also offer left-handed options in the middle order.
Pant emerged as the frontrunner for the wicketkeeper’s spot largely due to the form and fitness he has exhibited in the IPL, marking a remarkable comeback from his car accident in Dec 2022. Samson’s current batting form and ability to attack spinners straightaway won him a place.
The selectors can keep making changes to the squad till May 24. The first batch of players, including those whose IPL teams fail to make the playoffs will leave for the US on May 21.
India play their first T20 World Cup match against Ireland in New York on June 5.
