On April 30, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad. The biggest omission from the 15-member squad was middle-order batter Rinku Singh who was considered India’s finisher for the mega event was snubbed and put in list of travelling reserves alongside opener Shubman Gill, and bowlers Avesh Khan, Khaleel Ahmed. However, there is still a chance for Rinku and others to make it to the 15-member squad.
However, as per the International Cricket Council (ICC) norms, all 20 teams participating in the event can make changes to the squad until May 25.
These changes are usually approved when a player gets ruled out due to injury. Considering the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, an injury can open the doors for the reserve players.
Rinku was expected to make it into the squad as India’s designated finisher but in-form Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter Shivam Dube made the cut. So far, Rinku has scored 123 runs in the IPL 2024 at an average of 20.50. He has yet to score a half-century. His strike rate is 150. Conversely, Dube has scored 350 runs from nine innings at an average of 58.33 including three half-centuries.
Meanwhile, Yashasvi Jaiswal was preferred over Gill. The Gujarat Titans (GT) skipper has scored 320 runs from 10 games at an average of 35.56 including two half-centuries. His strike rate is 140.97.
Gill in a recent interaction with Sports Tak had said that he would cheer for the team if he doesn’t get a spot despite scoring 900 runs in last season.
“Every player dreams of representing his country in World Cup. I was diagnosed with dengue early in ODI World Cup 2023. I came back to the team and played. I learned a lot during the tournament, especially in India. It is a dream for me to represent India on the biggest stage in T20 World Cup. When it comes to my selection, if I don't get a chance despite scoring 900 runs in last season then I can do only one thing. I'll cheer for the players who make it into the team and wish them all the best,” Gill said.
India’s T20 World Cup squad
Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Hardik Pandya (vc), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.
Reserves - Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Avesh Khan.
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