IPL 2024: No Place For Sanju Samson in Irfan Pathan's 15-Member Indian T20 World Cup Squad

Former cricketer Irfan Pathan has omitted IPL 2024 top performers Sanju Samson and KL Rahul from his 15-member Indian squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 in USA and the Caribbean.

Team India is likely to announce their preliminary squad for the show-piece tournament during the weekend as the cut off date of May 1 gets near. Every participating team, however, will get a chance to change players in their initial squad till May 25.

As part of the Star Sports VisaToWorldCup campaign during the IPL 2024, Irfan Pathan picked his possible 15-member Indian squad for the T20 World Cup 2024.

The former all-rounder has named Rishabh Pant as the lone wicketkeeper in the side with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill as options for top order alongside usual suspects Virat Kohli and skipper Rohit Sharma.

Pathan had also taken to social media to reveal his top 3 in the batting order and also back Jaiswal to partner Rohit with Kohli coming in at his usual number three spot.

"Now that World Cup is nearing. My top 3 for team India. 1) Rohit Sharma (in form as well as captain) 2) Yashasvi Jaiswal (been saying that he should be there even before his 100 purely cos he was performing well for team India before the ipl)," Pathan posted on X.

"3) Virat Kohli. (Shouldn't be any question regarding his place or strike rate. His strike rate at the T20I is 138 + Better than Chris Gayle+ 51 avg. N his ipl strike rate this season is 150)"

Suryakumar Yadav, who would be the immeadiate pick in many teams along with Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja also were part of Pathan's contingent for the show-piece tournament in June.

Rinku Singh and in-form Shivam Dube also found a place in the former left-arm seamer's squad, while Hardik Pandya, who has often been criticized by his state teammate, is also among the 15.

Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, the Kul-Cha pair, have found a place in Pathan's squad as specialist spinners, while Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj complete the bowling attack. Here is a look at Irfan Pathan's choice:

Irfan Pathan's 15-member India Squad for T20 World Cup 2024

Rohit Sharma (captain), Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh.