Rishabh Pant has made a remarkable return to India’s squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, just 16 months after suffering severe injuries in a near-fatal car crash. The wicketkeeper-batter has been in impressive form for Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL), scoring 398 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 158.56.
Pant’s inclusion in the squad is a testament to his resilience and determination, as he has overcome significant physical and mental challenges to regain his place in the national team. He is one of two wicketkeepers picked, alongside Sanju Samson, who has made a World Cup squad for the first time at the age of 29. There’s no room in the squad for KL Rahul, who was India’s wicketkeeper at last year’s 50-over World Cup but hasn’t played a T20 international since the 2022 T20 World Cup.
All-rounder Shivam Dube, recalled by India last August after more than two years out, has also made the squad, but Rinku Singh has been overlooked despite playing most of India’s recent T20I games. Wrist spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, the only bowler to take 200 wickets in IPL history, is a surprise inclusion because he wasn’t used when India hosted the 50-over World Cup last year. Chahal has 13 wickets in nine IPL games in 2024.
India have picked three further spinners in their 15-man squad, including left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav, and left-arm spin all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. Star batters Virat Kohli and captain Rohit Sharma have also been confirmed as part of the squad for the tournament in June in the Caribbean and United States.
Sharma and Kohli are in good form in the IPL. Kohli leads the run-scorers’ charts with 500 in 10 innings, including one hundred and four half-centuries. Sharma has 311 in nine games at a strike rate of 160.30. Nine of the 15-man squad were at the 2022 T20 World Cup, where India lost in the semi-finals to eventual champions England. India begin their 2024 campaign on June 5 against Ireland. They will also play Pakistan, tournament hosts the USA and Canada.
