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The clock is ticking towards the T20 World Cup 2024 squad announcement, and cricket fans across India are buzzing with anticipation. With the T20 World Cup 2024 kicking off just five days after the conclusion of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, all eyes are glued to the ongoing tournament. This IPL season holds immense weight for player selection, as strong performances could be the deciding factor in securing a coveted spot in the final 15-member Team India squad. With the T20 World Cup squad announcement looming, former cricketer Mohammad Kaif revealed his preferred India's squad for the T20 World Cup and even highlighted his ideal playing XI. The pressure is on for the selection committee, with India's World Cup journey set to begin against Ireland on June 5.
Mohammad Kaif rules out Rohit-Kohli opening
While some, like former captain Sourav Ganguly, advocate for a Rohit Sharma-Virat Kohli opening partnership, Mohammad Kaif prefers a different approach. In his proposed XI, young gun Yashasvi Jaiswal gets the nod to open alongside Rohit. The in-form Virat Kohli, currently the IPL's leading run-scorer (Orange Cap holder), bats at No.3. Kaif also welcomes back Suryakumar Yadav, who returned to competitive cricket in the IPL this year, slotting him in at No.4. Another returning player, Rishabh Pant, who smashed an impressive 88 runs off just 43 balls in his last match against Gujarat Titans, gets the wicketkeeper's mantle in Kaif's XI at No.5. Hardik Pandya, whose captaincy stint with Mumbai Indians hasn't been stellar (MI lost their first three matches before their recent win), finds himself at No.6.
Kaif picks India's bowling pack
Rounding out Kaif's bowling attack, Ravindra Jadeja (CSK) and Axar Patel fill the No.7 and No.8 spots, respectively. Given Kuldeep Yadav's impressive showing for DC in the IPL, Kaif places him at No.9. The pace attack features the dependable duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh, completing the starting XI.
Kaif's reserves hold a surprise omission
Mohammed Siraj, a mainstay in India's recent multi-format squads. In his place, Kaif opts for the unconventional pick of Sandeep Sharma, last seen in national colors in July 2015. This selection stems from Sandeep's recent heroics for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, where he rattled the Mumbai Indians' batting order with a stellar 5-wicket haul (5/18). Kaif's bench throws a few curveballs. Despite a strong showing for CSK this season, Shivam Dube finds himself among the reserves. Similarly, Rinku Singh, a regular in India's T20 squad since last year's IPL, also misses the starting XI. Both players will have to wait in the wings for their chance. Sanju Samson, a popular choice for the World Cup squad by many, finds himself as a backup option for Kaif. Instead, KL Rahul gets the nod as the final member of the main squad. Samson joins Yuzvendra Chahal, the IPL's leading wicket-taker, and Avesh Khan as reserves, ready to step in if needed.
Here's how Mohammad Kaif's hand-picked India's T20 World Cup squad looks like:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Sandeep Sharma, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, and KL Rahul.
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