T20 World Cup 2024: India Squad Announced; Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, Yuzvendra Chahal Return

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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selection committee on Tuesday (April 30) announced a strong 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024, slated to be held in the USA and West Indies. The Rohit Sharma-led side will also have four reserve players for the marquee event.

The team was announced after BCCI's chief selector Ajit Agarkar and Secretary Jay Shah attended the Selection Committee meeting at ITC Narmada Hotel in Ahmedabad for the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Hardik Pandya continues to be Rohit Sharma's deputy and the rumours of Rishabh Pant getting appointed as India vice-captain in the T20Is come out as hoax.

Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson to be India's wicketkeepers

Pant - who made his return to competitive cricket after a gap of 14 months - has been included in the squad for the showpiece event as the wicketkeeper-batter. Sanju Samson - who has been going through a purple patch in the ongoing IPL 2024 - has been rewarded and pipped KL Rahul as the second wicketkeeper-batter in the squad.

Lokesh Rahul, meanwhile, seems to have failed to gain the trust of the captain, coach as well as selectors and didn't find a spot in the 15-member squad. Shivam Dube - the big-hitting middle-order batter from Mumbai - has also been rewarded for his impressive performance for the Chennai Super Kings. His ability to hit sixes in the middle overs makes him a valuable addition.

Suryakumar Yadav - the number one-ranked T20I batter - will be Team India's batting mainstay at number four. Rohit, Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal will be the top three batters for Team India in the competition while Shubman Gill has been put in the reserves.

Four All-Rounders In India Squad

Hardik, Dube, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel are the four all-rounders, the selection committee has picked up for the T20 World Cup 2024. However, both Hardik and Dube - the fast-bowling all-rounders - haven't proven their mettle completely with the ball in the ongoing IPL for their respective teams.

Pandya has had an underwhelming performance with bat and ball in the ongoing IPL for Mumbai Indians while Dube has played mostly as an Impact Substitute for CSK in the competition and his bowling credentials haven't been completely tested.

Jadeja and Axar have done well with the ball for their franchises, CSK and Delhi Capitals respectively, in the ongoing premier domestic T20 competition. The pitches in the Caribbean and even in the USA are expected to favour the spinners, hence they will play a crucial role.

Yuzvendra Chahal returns in T20Is

In a big development, Yuzvendra Chahal makes his comeback into the T20I side after being ignored for two previous World Cups. Chahal will be joined by fellow spin-twin Kuldeep Yadav in the spin department.

The pace attack will be spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah and he will be supported by right-arm quick Mohd Siraj and left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh.

India Squad for T20 WC

Team India: Rohit Sharma (C), Hardik Pandya (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd Siraj

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