Legendary Indian batter Sunil Gavaskar feels that the selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar has picked a good squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and West Indies. Gavaskar feels Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper Hardik Pandya will give skipper Rohit Sharma more flexibility with his bowling options.
Gavaskar was asked about India’s playing eleven for India’s T20 World Cup 2024 opener against Ireland on June 7. He did not include in-form Chennai Super Kings (CSK) finisher Shivam Dube in the side.
"I would have left-right combination that opened in the Test matches - Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Kohli, at No. 3. Suryakumar Yadav at No. 4. Rishabh Pant at No. 5. Hardik Pandya at No. 6, Ravindra Jadeja at No. 7, No. 8 is Kuldeep Yadav, No. 9 is Jasprit Bumrah and No. 10. Arshdeep Singh, No. 11 - open at the moment. I will fill that slot based on what conditions are on offer," Gavaskar told India Today.
Gavaskar backed Pandya to shrug off the poor form in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. He feels that the all-rounder will be more positive frame of mind.
"There's a big difference between playing for your country and playing in the IPL. Playing for your country just brings out a different energy in every player and Hardik will be a different player. He has had to face a lot of issues in this tournament," Gavaskar said.
"He has handled it quite well. So, when he goes overseas and plays for India, he will be in a completely different frame of mind. And that's going to be a much more positive frame of mind than what we have seen in this tournament. So Hardik will make good contributions with both bat and ball in the World Cup," he added.
While Gavaskar felt that the selectors have done a good job, there is one player he would have wanted in the squad. The 74-year-old feels Sunrisers Hyderabad's (SRH) T Natarajan would have been in a good addition.
India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad
Rohit Sharma (c), Yashashvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, 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.
Travelling Reserves: Shubman Gill, Rimku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Avesh Khan
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