Exclusive! T20 World Cup 2024: Graeme Swann picks his wicketkeeper for India between Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson

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New Delhi, May 24: Former England cricketer Graeme Swann has picked his choice for India's wicketkeeper-batter for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024, starting June 1 in the USA and West Indies.

Indian selectors picked up Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson as two wicketkeepers in the 18-member squad, led by Rohit Sharma, for the upcoming showpiece event.

Rishabh Pant or Sanju Samson - Who Will Be India's Wicketkeeper in the USA?

Swann - while speaking to myKhel on the sidelines of Legends Intercontinental T20 League launch in New Delhi - gave his verdict on who between Pant and Samson will be making it to the playing eleven straight away for Team India.

"Pant for me, I would pick Rishabh Pant every time. I love Rishabh Pant, I love the way he plays, there's always a big smile on his face and even though Sanju (Samson) is a Rajasthan boy, I would still pick Pant (as the first-choice wicketkeeper for India) without any doubt," the 45-year-old remarked.

Samson, the captain of the Rajasthan Royals, has already accumulated 521 runs, boasting an average of 52.1 and a strike rate of 155. Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant, who captained the Delhi Capitals, finished the season with 446 runs, maintaining an average of 40 and an identical strike rate of 155. It will be interesting to see who between the two will make the final cut in the playing eleven.

England Cricket Team's T20 World Cup Chances

When asked about holders England's chances of defending their title in the USA and Caribbean, the former cricketer - who was part of the 2010 T20 World Cup winning English side in the Caribbean - backed his home team to do it but admitted Jos Buttler and white-ball coach Matthew Mott will have to pick the right team assessing the conditions properly.

Swann - who played a key role in the 2010 T20 WC final against Australia with his figures of 1/17 - told myKhel, "England are a superb team. If they play well in the (Caribbean) conditions and pick the right team, there's no reason they can go the distance."

The Northamptonshire cricketer, however, claimed the widespread experience of playing T20 leagues, happening around the world, will bode well for other teams as well and every other participating nation would be fancying their chances in the upcoming marquee tournament, featuring a record 20 teams.

"But I think every nation when they look at the team they've picked up. They'll be like 'Hang on, we have the chance to win'. Very few teams have weak links and such is the prevalence of T20 competitions around the world these days, every team has players who have the experience (of handling big match pressure) and who are raring to go. So, I am looking forward to this T20 WC," he signed off.

India Squad for T20 World Cup 2024

Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya (vc), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.

Travelling Reserves: Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh Khan.