The upcoming T20 World Cup is just around the corner, and the excitement is building. Former players and analysts are trying to predict who will make up the 15-man Indian squad for the tournament in the USA and the West Indies. Rohit Sharma has already been confirmed as the captain, and it looks like the management is considering an opening pair of him and Virat Kohli. Rishabh Pant is also expected to return to international cricket as the wicketkeeper in the side.
However, there is still some debate over who will fill the remaining spots in the squad. Former India batter Ambati Rayudu has selected his own 15-man squad, and there are some surprising names on the list. Rayudu has opted for veteran Dinesh Karthik as his sole wicketkeeper, leaving out both Pant and KL Rahul. He has also dropped struggling Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya.
Rayudu’s decision to include Karthik ahead of Pant is a bit of a surprise. Pant has been in sensational form for Delhi Capitals this season, while Karthik has been inconsistent for Royal Challengers Bangalore. However, Rayudu believes that Karthik’s experience will be valuable in a major tournament like the World Cup. He also believes that Karthik’s finishing skills will be crucial in close games.
The omission of Hardik Pandya is also a bit surprising. Pandya is India’s premier fast-bowling all-rounder, but he has struggled for form this season. Rayudu believes that Pandya is not currently in good enough form to warrant a place in the World Cup squad.
In place of Pandya, Rayudu has included in-form all-rounder Shivam Dube. Dube has been in excellent form for Chennai Super Kings this season, and he offers a similar skillset to Pandya. He can bowl quick and he can also hit the ball a long way.
Rayudu has also included finisher Rinku Singh in his squad. Singh has been in good form for Kolkata Knight Riders this season, and he offers a similar skillset to Karthik. He can hit the ball a long way, and he can also bowl a few overs of spin.
The rest of Rayudu’s squad is fairly predictable. It includes the likes of Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, and Jasprit Bumrah. Rayudu has also included a couple of young players in Riyan Parag and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Rayudu’s squad is a strong one, and it is likely to be very competitive in the T20 World Cup. However, there are still a few question marks over the team’s balance. Rayudu has only selected one wicketkeeper, which could be a problem if Karthik gets injured. He has also only selected one fast-bowling all-rounder, which could also be a problem if Dube gets injured.
Overall, Rayudu’s squad is a good one, but there are still a few areas where he could make some improvements.