The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday (April 30) announced the 15-man squad for the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup, which is set to take place in the West Indies and the United States in June. Among the selected players is wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, whose explosive performance in the IPL have earned him a spot in India’s squad for the prestigious tournament.
Rishab Pant’s Return
Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, who suffered from serious injury from a near-fatal crash in December 2022 got a spot in the squad after impressing selectors with his performances in this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL).
The 26-year-old who is also the skipper of Delhi Capitals scored three fifties and a total of 398 runs in 11 matches during the IPL. His form convinced and impressed the selectors that he was ready for the T20 WC tournament. Joining Pant in the squad is Chennai Super Kings’ hard-hitting batsman Shivam Dube, who scored 350 runs in nine IPL matches, earning his place through consistent performances.
Notable exclusion
However, there were notable exclusions, with wicketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul missing out on selection. Instead, Rajasthan Royals’ Sanju Samson was named as Pant’s backup. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, and Avesh Khan were named in the reserves.
Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, India aims for a second title in the tournament, following their triumph in the inaugural edition in 2007. Vice-captain Hardik Pandya, despite struggling to find top form in the IPL after returning from an ankle injury, retains his place in the squad. The lineup also features experienced players like Virat Kohli and promising talent like Yashasvi Jaiswal.
In the bowling department, Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh add depth to the pace attack led by Jasprit Bumrah, while spinners Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Axar Patel provide a formidable spin arsenal.
India’s campaign begins against Ireland on June 5 in New York, followed by a highly-anticipated clash against arch-rivals Pakistan. With a balanced squad and high expectations, India aims to make a strong statement in the T20 World Cup.
India’s T20 World Cup squad
Rohit Sharma (captain), Arshdeep Singh, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson, Yuzvendra Chahal, Suryakumar Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav.
Reserves: Khaleel Ahmed, Avesh Khan, Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh.
