Rishabh Pant’s stunning return to form has earned him a recall to the Indian national cricket team for the upcoming T20 World Cup in June. Pant’s selection marks his first appearance for India since suffering a serious car accident 16 months ago. The wicketkeeper-batsman has been in scintillating form for the Delhi Capitals in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, amassing a remarkable 398 runs from 11 matches.
Pant’s impressive performances with the bat, coupled with his exceptional fitness behind the stumps, have convinced the selectors to include him in the squad. The 26-year-old’s big-match temperament is expected to be a valuable asset for India in the tournament, as he has a knack for performing under pressure situations.
The squad announcement has come as no major surprise, with Rohit Sharma retained as captain and Hardik Pandya named as vice-captain. Virat Kohli, who has been in terrific form as an opener for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL, has also secured a place in the team. However, it remains to be seen whether Kohli will be given his preferred batting position in the Indian team, or if Yashasvi Jaiswal will open the innings alongside skipper Sharma.
Suryakumar Yadav, despite playing only six matches for the Mumbai Indians this season, has been included in the squad based on his game-changing abilities. He remains a key figure in India’s batting lineup, which still lacks the power-hitting prowess of some of the other top contenders.
Sanju Samson, who has been named as a keeper-batter, could add to India’s big-hitting capabilities. However, his inclusion in the playing XI will require a leap of faith from Rohit Sharma and the team management.
Left-hander Rinku Singh, who has performed admirably in the finisher’s role for India, will be disappointed to miss out on a place in the main squad but has been named among the reserves. Shivam Dube has been preferred over Rinku, owing to his impressive performances with the Chennai Super Kings, particularly in the middle overs against spin. Dube’s all-round abilities, including his batting and bowling capabilities, make him a valuable asset to the team.
Vice-captain Hardik Pandya returns to the T20 team after recovering from an ankle injury sustained during last year’s ODI World Cup. While Pandya has not been at his best in the IPL, he remains India’s only genuine medium-pace all-rounder. Shivam Dube could serve as a backup option if Pandya fails to deliver.
Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel are the two specialist spin all-rounders in the squad, with both players offering valuable contributions with both bat and ball. Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal have been included to revive the #KulCha partnership, although it is unlikely that both will feature in the same game.
Jasprit Bumrah leads the pace attack, but India’s vulnerability lies in their second pacer. Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh have been known to be expensive, which could be a concern. The conditions in the West Indies, where the latter half of the World Cup will be played, are expected to favor spinners. However, India may wish they had taken a more adventurous approach to their selection if the tournament turns into a pure power-hitting contest. The selectors have opted for tried and tested big names, but as recent ICC tournaments have shown, it takes more than that to lift the World Cup trophy.
