With anticipation building ahead of the announcement of India’s T20 World Cup squad, the focus shifts to standout players in the current IPL season, notably Rishabh Pant. His impressive resurgence following a severe car accident in December 2022, sidelining him for over a year, has sparked conversations about his potential inclusion in the final 15.
India’s squad for the T20 World Cup is still far from settled. The debate over the opening slots, the choice between two wicketkeepers, the backup spinner, and finding a power hitter for the middle order will be intense. Besides considering performances in the IPL and recent international matches, the team management will also factor in the specific conditions in the West Indies and USA, which could influence the final selection of the 15-member squad. However, 10 players are virtually guaranteed a spot and will undoubtedly be on the flight bound for the USA in June this year.
The national selection committee is unlikely to introduce any inexperienced IPL performers. However, a few seasoned players may face disappointment when the squad is finalised by the end of this month. With the ICC mandating the announcement of the provisional 15-member squad by the May 1 cutoff date, Ajit Agarkar and his colleagues have some clear decisions to make, assuming every member of the team is fit.
The team management is closely monitoring the performances of each player in IPL 2024. As per PTI, the BCCI is likely to opt for either Gujarat Titans’ captain Shubman Gill or Rajasthan Royals’ opener Yashasvi Jaiswal for the opening slot. However, there’s a possibility that both players could be included in the final 15.
Shubman Gill has showcased impressive form in the ongoing IPL tournament, accumulating 263 runs in seven innings at an average of 43.83. He currently ranks among the top five contenders for the Orange Cap. Conversely, Jaiswal has struggled to find his rhythm this season, tallying 121 runs in seven innings at an average of 17.29. However, Jaiswal’s left-handed batting stance could work in his favour during the selection process.
If both Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal are selected in the final 15, it’s anticipated that only one of the two finishers – Kolkata Knight Riders’ Rinku Singh or Chennai Super Kings’ Shivam Dube, will secure a spot in the squad.
Virat Kohli’s inclusion is almost certain as he is the current orange cap holder of IPL 2024 and has been opening for the Royal Challengers Bangalore for several seasons now.
According to a PTI report, confirmed members of the squad include Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Sanju Samson, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, and Avesh Khan
However, fierce competition is underway among several top IPL performers for the remaining spots, particularly for the backup wicketkeeper position – Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul, Jitesh Sharma, and Dhruv Jurel are all vying for the role of Pant’s understudy.
