According to multiple reports, India's T20 World Cup squad is set to be announced today. You can follow all the latest developments on our new blog. Click here to track updates from the BCCI meeting.

Mumbai Indians wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan and Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Shreyas Iyer are having a tough time in their careers. Ahead of IPL 2023, the duo got axed from BCCI's central contract list after they ignored the board's order to play domestic cricket. However, the IPL also did not brought any relief as they are having a mediocre run in the ongoing season. As the announcement of Team India's for the World Cup is approaching, there are absolutely no talks going on regarding these two players. 

Punjab Kings star Jitesh Sharma was also one of the top contenders for the wicketkeepers spot in India's squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Jitesh, who was known for his aggressive hitting and providing his team with the momentum during crunch situations, has failed to live up to the expectations in the ongoing edition of the IPL. In nine matches, he has managed to score only 128 runs with the highest score of 29. However, it will be interesting to see what has destiny planned for him.

Sandeep Sharma has made a strong case for himself in the reckoning for the T20 World Cup squad. He could prove to be a good pick for India in West Indies and USA where pitches are expected to be slow in nature. However, will the selectors that risk, considering that he hasn't played for India in nine years.

Star pacer Jofra Archer is set to earn a recall in England's squad for the T20 World Cup. It also a possibility that Tom Hartley, who made his Test debut during the India tour, is set to pip Rehan Ahmed for the back-up spinner's slot.

In the spin-department, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Ravi Bishnoi are set to make the cut. Selectors are not keen to recall veteran Yuzvendra Chahal despite his riches in IPL 2024.

Despite his stunning IPL 2024 show so far, Jake Fraser-McGurk is likely to miss out in Australia's T20 World Cup squad.

According to a report, Rishabh Pant is likely to be the first-choice wicketkeeper for India at the World Cup, with the likes of Sanju Samson and KL Rahul. Dhruv Jurel and Jitesh Sharma are in contention to be the second choice keeper as the BCCI is looking for someone who can bat in the middle-order.

According to a report in ESPNCricinfo, England are likely to recall the experienced Chris Jordan with Chris Woakes missing out. Jordan has played in five World Cups. 

According to the report in PTI, KL Rahul (IPL strike rate of 144 and 378 runs so far) and Sanju Samson (385 runs at a strike rate of 161) are still locked in a battle for the second wicketkeeper's slot. But Indian Express claims that the race is between Sanju Samson vs Jitesh Sharma vs Dhruv Jurel

Sharma is not in great form while Jurel is not keeping wickets in the IPL.

The final BCCI meeting to decide the squad will happen on Ahmedabad for a specific reason. The BCCI secretary Jay Shah is the convenor of the senior selection committee (men) and with Shah busy with his political commitments, it is understood that the meeting will be held in Ahmedabad.

The second wicketkeeper's slot and all-rounder Hardik Pandya's place in the side will be the two talking points of the selection meeting, according to news agency PTI. It is understood that KL Rahul (IPL strike rate of 144 and 378 runs so far) and Sanju Samson (385 runs at a strike rate of 161) are still locked in a battle for the second wicketkeeper's slot.

According to the report in Th Indian Express. Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav are likely to be the top 4 batters. If that happens, it will mean that both Kohli, who is an opener, and Suryakumar Yadav, a No. 3 for MI, will bat lower down the order than their usual spots.  

According to a report in the PTI, the national selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar will meet BCCI secretary Jay Shah in Ahmedabad on Tuesday to finalise the 15-member squad for the ICC T20 World Cup in the Americas but the official announcement might happen a day later. The second wicketkeeper's slot and all-rounder Hardik Pandya's place in the side will be the two talking points of the selection meeting.

The report also claims another interesting details and that is the travelling reserves. According to the report, Shubman Gill, Riyan Parag, Axar Patel and Khaleel Ahmed will be the four travelling reserves for the T20 World Cup in West Indies and US.

Some very interesting details are in coming in. In a new report by the Indian express, the BCCI are tinkering with the idea of ignoring both KL Rahul and Sanju Samson as the second wicketkeeper. The main reason is they are batting in the top-order in the IPL. And the BCCI wants somebody, like Rishabh Pant, who can bat lower down the order. The report claims that in such a scenario PBKS' Jitesh Sharma or RR's Dhruv Jurel may get a look-in.

Aakash Chopra squad has no Shubman Gill, Mohammed Siraj and Sanju Samson. T Natarajana is one of three pacers. Rinku Singh And Shivam Dube both are in. 

Aakash Chopra picks India's squad for the T20 World Cup. pic.twitter.com/RndjcCk7wx

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 29, 2024

According to a report in the Times of India, Tilak Varma may have a faint chance to be considered because the hitting ability of the likes of Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja have not been on full show in the IPL 2024. However, the report added that the BCCI is intent on going with tried and tested players in marquee event.

There is a crucial new update regarding the composition of the squad. According to a report in the Cricbuzz, there were two main points regarding the squad which will depend on Rohit's call. One is whether to include a fourth pacer, with Hardik Pandya al ready in the squad, and the second whether to pick Shubman Gill or not.   

Yuzvendra Chahal, according to a report in the Cricbuzz, is unlikely to make it to the squad for the T20 World Cup. The rports said that Kulddep Yadav will be the top choice spinner while Axar Patel is ahead in the race with Ravi Boshnoi. Chahal, it says, is unlikely to be considered.

According to a report in the Cricbuzz, Hardik Pandya is going to face a tough fight from Rishabh Pant for the vice-captaincy of the Indian cricket tea,. The report said that some his decisions as MI captain may have dented Pandya's chances. Om the other hand, Pant was India's designated vice-captain before his near-fatal accident.

The question was; "Should Hardik Pandya be picked for T20 World Cup 2024?" Out of 346 respondents, 119 said he should be picked, 60 said he should be picked as there are no other option. 167 thought he should not be picked at all. So, 48.26 per cent fans think he should not be picked. 17.34 percentage respondents thinks he should be picked only because there is not other option. 

NDTV on Sunday did a poll to understand the mood of the fans regarding the inclusion of Hardik Pandya considering the MI captain is not in the best of form. Following are the results: 

Rinku Singh for T20 World Cup is not a certainty either. According to a report in the ESPN cricinfo, there might be a shoot out a single spot between Rinku Singh and a backup fast bowler. That BCCI are adamant on picking tried and tasted big names like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya, means that the finisher is not 100 per cent in.

According to a report in the ESPNCricinfo, the BCCI selectors might have made an exception for speedster Mayank Yadav, despite him having no experience. But his 'injury-prone body' might have prevented from any such thing to happen. So a punt on him will most likely be not taken by the Indian team management.  

Former Australia cricketer Tom Moody has expressed his views regarding the place of all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja in the T20 World Cup. 

"I'd be taking Jadeja purely because I'm looking for the best left-arm spinning option. He's the best left-arm spinner in the country. In my eleven, he's not batting at No.7. I don't think he's good enough to bat seven in a World Cup side. He's proven that with his strike rate. You need an impact-type player batting at seven," said Tom Moody. 

There isn't long left before the T20 World Cup 2024 squads are out for all the teams. But, there remains some big points of discussion over the Indian team. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar met India captain Rohit Sharma recently but the two reportedly weren't on the same page over all aspects. Time is running out for them to reach a consensus and finalise the 15-member roster.

"It's a tremendous honour to be entrusted with the responsibility of coaching the Pakistan men's national team in white-ball cricket and to rejoin the international cricket arena after some time. I eagerly anticipate this opportunity and aim to contribute positively to the Pakistan men's national team in limited-overs cricket. Kirsten's strategy focuses on prioritizing continuity in team selections, aiming to create a stable and consistent environment that allows players to perform at their best. He believes that maintaining a cohesive unit and building strong team dynamics are essential for the team's success in international competitions," said Kirsten. 

According to ESPNCricinfo, India skipper Rohit Sharma has expressed his wish to include star batter Virat Kohli among the top four batters in the team for the T20 World Cup. Rohit has stated that Kohli's temperament will be a big positive for India in the marquee event. Talking about his stats, Kohli has played a total of 117 T20Is and scored a whopping total of 4037 runs. He has smashed a century and 37 half-centuries in the shortest format. 

The selectors are concerned about Hardik Pandya's fitness as a bowler. The Mumbai Indians skipper is having a mediocre outing both with the bat and ball in the ongoing IPL. A fully-git Hardik is a big asset for India as he can bowl medium pace and also act a aggressive middle-order batter. However, his pace in the ongoing IPL is not upto the mark and he is bowling just two overs in every match. 

According the report of ESPNCricinfo, the selection committee is considering Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson as their first choice wicketkeeper for Team India. This means that in-form Rishabh will come next in line as he is also having a brilliant run in the ongoing IPL. Apart from them, player like Jitesh Sharma has failed to deliver a strong performance and has lost his contention. KL Rahul, who was also a strong contender is currently batting as an opener for Lucknow Super Giants and that position has already been taken by Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill. 

Cricket legend, @BrianLara reveals his 15-member #TeamIndia squad for the upcoming #T20WorldCup2024!
Which players do you feel should get the #VisaToWorldCup? It's time to voice your choice!
Participate in the biggest opinion poll ever on our social media handles till 1st… pic.twitter.com/7hTeXQb8wu

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) April 29, 2024

The selection committee is currently going through a tough time as they have to select the third opener for India/ If reports are to be believed then star batter Virat Kohli is likely to open alongside skipper Rohit Sharma. The selectors now have to make a choice between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill. The remaining IPL matches can play a crucial role in their selection. 

The BCCI selectors are facing the problem of plenty while choosing India's squad for the T20 World Cup. The first and foremost issue is while choosing the opening partner for Rohit Sharma between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill. Apart from this, another problem in front of the selectors is to make a choice between India star Rinku Singh or Chennai Super Kings aggressive batter Shivam Dube. The selectors also have to make a tough choice for the role of the wicketkeeper as there are Sanju Samson, Rishabh Pant, and KL Rahul fighting for that one spot. 

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selection committee is reportedly undecided over three major challenges at the moment. They are:

Third Opener, Second Wicket-keeper

Stick With Existing Seam Attack Or Change?

The Power-hitters in the middle

There remain a few points debates and discussions for the T20 World Cup 2024 squad selection. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar, in consultation with captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid have some big calls to make.

While KL Rahul be preferred over one of Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson?

Will T Natarajan or Avesh Khan be picked among the pace-bowling unit?

Shubman Gill or Yashasvi Jaiswal, can only one of them make the cut?

As the wait goes on for the BCCI to name T20 World Cup squad, New Zealand have named their picks.

Virat Kohli was in no mood to play defense after seeing his strike-rate being questioned by pundits. The RCB star responded to those doubting his place in India's T20 World Cup squad with a fiery message. The selectors must've also listened to the star batter's sentiments.

"Not really, all the people who talk about strike-rates and me not playing spin well are the ones talking about this stuff. For me, it's about winning the games for the team and there's a reason why you've done it for 15 years, you've done this day in and day out, you've won games for your teams, I'm not quite sure that if you haven't been in that situation yourself, to sit and talk about the game from the box. For me, people can talk about their assumptions day in and day out, but those who have done day in and day out, they know what's happening and it's a kind of muscle memory for me now," he had said on Sunday.

Former Australian cricket team captain Aaron Finch selected his India squad where Shubman Gill failed to make the cut as he went ahead of Yashasvi Jaiswal as Rohit Sharma's opening partner.

Ruturaj Gaikwad has enjoyed a tremendous run of form in the IPL 2024 till now and he almost added another century to his name. With Jaiswal, Gill, Rohit and Virat being considered as the opening batters, it is unlikely that he will find a place but his performances have surely made him a big contender.

Mohammed Siraj was not happy with the pitches on offer during the IPL 2024.

"See, nowadays cricket is really different, now 250-260 is made in every second match, earlier 250 was a rare thing," said Siraj after RCB's win over Gujarat Titans.

"There is no help for bowlers, there is smaller grounds and flat wickets, there is no swing in the ball, so lots of changes. Bowlers can just keep playing and keep getting hit." 

"Life has been hard for the bowlers, especially this IPL as teams have looked to go for big hits to keep the run-rate high even after the powerplay." 

"As a bowler, you have to keep the self-belief. I have seen lots of ups and downs in life, so I don't give up if 1-2 matches don't go my way. I look for a comeback," Siraj said.

Amid all the talks surrounding India's squad, renowned commentator Harsha Bhogle has picked his squad, but of Pakistan, as per Geo News.

Harsha Bhogle's World Cup squad for Pakistan:

Babar Azam (c,) Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan, Azam Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan.

India Squad Based On IPL 2024 Stats:

Openers: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Abhishek Sharma, Rohit Sharma

Batters: Virat Kohli, Riyan Parag, Shivam Dube

Wicket-keepers: Sanju Samson, KL Rahul

All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel

Bowlers: Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Sandeep Sharma, T Natarajan

Irfan Pathan believes that skipper Rohit Sharma should open with Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is on an upward trajectory in IPL 2024, following a slow start in the tournament, instead of Virat Kohli.

The former India all-rounder also left Shubman Gill out of his squad.

Ambati Rayudu has also picked his 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup. Hardik Pandya is one of the notable absentees from Rayudu's 15.

Ambati Rayudu's India squad for T20 World Cup 2024:

Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Dinesh Karthik, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Riyan Parag, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mayank Yadav, Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj.

Former NZ pacer Simon Doull believes that Rishabh Pant does not fit in the middle order right now and things would have been easier if he could bat at No. 3

"He's getting closer. Can he bat at 3? Because I go back to the team I'm looking at (for T20 World Cup), and he doesn't fit in the middle-order. If he can, he's getting a step closer to the boarding pass," Doull said on Cricbuzz.

Virat Kohli has slammed experts and critics for all the talk surrounding his strike rate. He was absolutely fuming after the match vs GT, and rightly so.
"Not really, all the people who talk about strike-rates and me not playing spin well are the ones talking about this stuff. For me, it's about winning the games for the team and there's a reason why you've done it for 15 years, you've done this day in and day out, you've won games for your teams, I'm not quite sure that if you haven't been in that situation yourself, to sit and talk about the game in the box. For me, people can talk about their assumptions day in and day out, but those who have done day in and day out, they know what's happening and it's a kind of muscle memory for me now," Kohli said after his unbeaten 44-ball 70 vs Gujarat.

Yuvraj Singh feels veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli should retire from T20Is after the World Cup, and should focus on the longer formats. Yuvraj, who is one of the brand ambassadors for the T20 World Cup, says that he wants to see more youngsters feature in the shortest format of the game.

Srikkanth has instead backed Avesh Khan to be the third choice pacer after Bumrah and Arshdeep.

"That's why I'm saying we should look at who's bowling well in the death overs, and that is Avesh Khan. He's been performing well and he's done well on the international front, he has a little experience as well. He's mastered the wide yorkers also," Srikkanth added.

1983 World Cup winner Krishnamachari Srikkanth feels Mohammed Siraj shouldn't be picked in the World Cup. 

Explaining his remark, Srikkanth said: "Bumrah is in the squad. Arshdeep as well. But the third pacer can't be Siraj. He'll bowl well in one game and then not perform in 10 games. He's an erratic bowler, you saw it in the World Cup."

Shubman Gill has further jeopardized his chances for the T20 World Cup squad, while Virat Kohli has played down the strike-rate talk surrounding him after his unbeaten 70 off 44 balls. 

According to a report, the first batch of the Indian players will leave for New York on May 22. The rest of the players will leave after the IPL final.

Due to the absence of BCCI Secretary Jay Shah in the meeting, the squad will now be announced on May 1, which is the deadline for squad submission. 

India captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid met with the Ajit Agarkar-led selections committe on Sunday to discuss the squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the America. According to a report in RevSportz, the squad will be announced on May 1.

India great Virender Sehwag feels Virat Kohli shouldn't open with captain Rohit Sharma at the upcoming T20 World Cup. He feels that the former India captain should continue to bat at no. 3. Sehwag gave the example of Sachin Tendulkar, recalling how the legendary batter played at different position only for the teams benefit.

"If I were in that team, I wouldn't send him to open. I'll play him at 3. Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal will open, and Kohli will continue to bat at no.3. The middle-overs approach is his headache, he knows if there's an early dismissal, he can take care of powerplays. If the wicket falls late, it's the captain and the coach's responsibility to tell him to keep the momentum intact. A player has to do this," Sehwag said in a recent interaction.

Virat Kohli is out there in the middle for RCB's 201-run chase vs Gujarat Titans. Need a big one from him today. It will not only silence his doubters, but also cement his place in T20 World Cup team

Michael Vaughan feels that if Ajit Agarkar thinks that the team is better off without veterans like Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, he shouldn't refrain himself from picking youngsters in the 15-man squad.
"What I'll say to Ajit Agarkar, Don't be scared to be brave. Don't be scared. If he ultimately believes that if the Indian T20 team is better off without a Virat Kohli or a KL Rahul, he wants to go with a fresh set of minds. If he ultimately believes that, then that's how he should deliver the team," Vaughan suggested.

"Don't fall under the pressure of 'oh you have to pick all the big names'. Because, they haven't been winning the trophies and it might be that a fresher set of minds with no baggage. No baggage from losing in November, no baggage from not doing great in the last T20 World Cup," he added.

Harbhajan Singh has suggested that Virat Kohli should bat at no. 4, with Shivam Dube at no. 3.

"If six-seven overs are played, and if we have a player like Shivam Dube, he can walk in at no.3. Kohli can then walk in at 4. Kohli is a great player, whether he plays at no.3 or 4, the team comes first. Even if you ask him this question, he will say the team comes first," Harbhajan suggested.

Former Indian cricket team star Irfan Pathan believes that India should opt for Kuldeep Yadav and Ravi Bishnoi rather than going for Yuzvendra Chahal. He also said that expect for Jasprit Bumrah, not many India pacers have not shown much promise in the recent past ahead of T20 World Cup 2024.

Shubman Gill is an interesting case for the India selectors - A celebrated batter who has shown glimpses of form in IPL 2024 but in comparison to Yashasvi Jaiswal, he is not looking just as good at the moment. As a result, he may miss out on a slot in the T20 World Cup squad and it goes on to show the amount of prospects that India have in the department.

Harbhajan Singh has snubbed all-rounder Hardik Pandya from his T20 World Cup squad. While his place in the team has been under scrutiny, news agency PTI has reported that Hardik is set to be picked by the selectors as there is no alternative (TINA) for him. 

It has been a horrible IPL 2024 campaign for pacer Mohammed Siraj and he will have a golden chance to prove himself during the match against Gujarat Titans. Jasprit Bumrah is the only name that is guaranteed to find a place in the T20 World Cup squad and if Siraj can find his form back, he is a strong contender.

Tom Moody throws his weight behind Md. Siraj. He expects the bowler to shine at the T20 World Cup

"I would back him 100% to step up in the world cup, purely because if you look historically what he's done for India and even what he did in the IPL last year, and you know his abilities in T20 cricket, be has been outstanding. So for me, he's taking the new ball with Bumrah, because I'm looking to take early wickets in the power play," Moody said.

According to ANI, Sanju Samson is set to be snubbed by the selectors despite his breathtaking form in the IPL this season. Instead, the BCCI is set to pick Pant and Rahul as the wicketkeepers.

My India squad for T20 WC:
1. Rohit (C)
2. Jaiswal
3. Kohli
4. SKY
5. Pant (WK)
6. Samson (WK)
7. Hardik
8. Dube
9. Rinku
10. Jadeja
11. Kuldeep
12. Chahal
13. Bumrah
14. Siraj
15. Arshdeep
What's yours? #T20WorldCup

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) April 28, 2024

RCB and GT square off in just over 30 minutes time. Both Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill's place in the T20 WC squad has been up for debate. However, it is highly likely that the youngster will be snubbed

Navjot Sidhu has backed Sanju Samson to keep the gloves.

"No. 1 is Sanju Samson, on form. This is a different Samson. If India finds themselves in situations where they need a spare opener or No. 4 batter or at No. 6, they you have KL Rahul, who is also in form. But I will still prefer Samson, followed by Rishabh Pant. He is coming out of an injury. Now, do you consider him as a white-ball specialist? His form is a bit patchy and scratchy, but he has survived the test so far. My preferences are these three," Sidhu told Star Sports.

Gautam Gambhir's reply who is talking about on Virat Kohli's strike rate. (Sportskeeda).
- A great reply by GGpic.twitter.com/L1Oq0cFb2w

— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) April 28, 2024

India skipper Rohit Sharma is likely to meet some BCCI officials and discuss the squad for the upcoming World Cup. The selection committee is concerned about the bowling fitness of Hardik Pandya. The all-rounder is having a mediocre outing with both bat and ball in the ongoing IPL. Apart from this, if Hardik's gets included then one player between Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh is likely to get axed from the team. 

Former India batter Krishnamachari Srikkanth snubbed both Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill from his choice of India's squad. 

Srikkanth's Team India squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant/Sanju Samson, Rinku Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, and T Natarajan

According to the report of Dainik Jagran, the unofficial meeting between Rohit Sharma and chief selector Ajit Agarkar will be held on Sunday. As per the report, the BCCI, Agarkar, head coach Rahul Dravid, and skipper Rohit are not on the same page, regarding the few names in the squad. However, it will be really interesting to see that how things will unfold during the announcement.

Former India batter Virender Sehwag has snubbed all-rounder Hardik Pandya from his Playing XI for T20 World Cup. 

Virender Sehwag's Team India Playing XI: Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube/Rinku Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Sandeep Sharma

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) pace sensation Mayank Yadav has made a strong impression with his raw pace, despite playing just two matches. Mayank who has picked up six wickets in two matches, is currently out of action due to workload management. Several experts, including former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, have vouched for Mayank's selection for the T20 World Cup.

Ahead of the squad announcement, NDTV Sports conducted a poll to see what the fans think. According to the poll, which was conducted on NDTV Cricket's WhatsApp channel, the fans have picked Mohammed Siraj and Mayank Yadav to partner Jasprit Bumrah at the T20 World Cup.

"I have the utmost respect for Rohit Sharma and I think he is an amazing cricketer. However, he is currently out of batting form. Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shubman Gill are in better form right now and are strong contenders for the opening positions. However, since Sharma is the captain, he will open, meaning one of those in-form players will have to bat lower down the order," he added.

With the tournament approaching, former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) team director Joy Bhattacharjya has questioned the BCCI's decision to appoint Rohit as captain. According to him, the appointment has hampered the team.

"The decision to appoint Rohit Sharma as India's captain for the T20 World Cup may have hampered the team. At this point, Sharma is not the ideal choice to lead the team in the T20I format," Bhattacharjya said on Cricbuzz.

"As you get older people start talking about your age and they forget about your for. These guys have been great players for India, and they deserve to go (retire) when they want. I would like to see more younger players in the T20 format because it gets the load off them (experienced players) playing 50-over (ODIs) and Test matches. After this (T20) World Cup I would like to see a lot of younger guys come into the team and make the T20 side for the next World Cup," said Yuvraj Singh. 

Despite being one of the top-scorers in this IPL, some reports have suggested that Sanju Samson might be overlooked in the 15-member Indian squad for the T20 World Cup. The report from news agency ANI suggests that Rishabh Pant is the No. 1 pick for the wicket-keeper's role while KL Rahul is leading the charge for the second keeper's spot, over Samson.

India legend Zaheer Khan made some surprising calls as he picked his 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup 2024:

India squad for T20 World Cup by Zaheer Khan:

Batters: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill/Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rinku Singh

All-Rounders: Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja

Listen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com

Wicket-Keeper: Rishabh Pant

Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Yash Dayal, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal.

The BCCI selection committee chief Ajit Agarkar was spotted at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi as Delhi Capitals took on Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2024 match on Saturday. Agarkar is said to have flown to Delhi to have an informal meeting with India captain Rohit Sharma. 

There remain 2-3 positions that still remain open as far as India's squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 is concerned.

India legend Jhulan Goswami had no place for Shubman Gill in her 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup 2024. The batter didn't even make the cut for her as a travelling reserve, with pacer Mukesh Kumar taking that spot.

Here’s my squad for the T20 World Cup 2024
Rohit(C)
Kohli
Yashasvi
Suryakumar
Pant (WK)
Samson (WK)
Hardik
Jadeja
Rinku
Dube
Bumrah
Arshdeep
Siraj
Kuldeep
Chahal
(Travel Reserve)
Mukesh Kumar#TeamIndia #T20WorldCup2024

— Jhulan Goswami (@JhulanG10) April 27, 2024

It is understood, Agarkar specially flew into Delhi for Saturday's IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals as he would also get a chance to chat up with skipper Rohit and get a further clarity before he sits with his colleagues to pick the final team, according to the PTI report.

Ajit Agarkar and skipper Rohit Sharma are expected to have an informal meeting in Delhi on a possible 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup, according to a report by PTI. The formal announcement might happen in Mumbai on May 1, the cut-off date for the ICC event, the report further claimed.

A lot of chatter has taken place on Sanju Samson's possible inclusion in the squad but KL Rahul's knock can be bad news for him. With both Rahul and Rishabh Pant finding form at the right time, Samson may end up missing out due to the huge number of top-order options.

A big statement from KL Rahul ahead of the selectors' meeting for the T20 World Cup 2024 as he slammed a gritty 74 for Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL 2024 match against Rajasthan Royals. A lot has been spoken about his strike-rate but he has maintained around 140 this season and his wicket-keeping makes him a lucrative choice for the competition.

Michael Hussey believes that Ravindra Jadeja has been very good while batting at No.4 and ahead of the T20 World Cup, that can be very good news for the Indian cricket team. "He is playing a different role (batting at number four). He has been coming in very late in the last few years. He has done a good job so far at adapting to the situation and playing accordingly," Hussey said.

The fast bowling department seems to be a matter of concern for India. Barring Bumrah, none are in form. Hardik Pandya's off-form has only complicated maters. Aaron Finch, Australia's T20 World Cup-winning captain, said: "I think spin could get them out of trouble. I think form of Kuldeep Yadav will be crucial and he will being the playing XI. Arshdeep Singh is I think a quality bowler, he can swing the new ball both ways. He is not in his best form at the moment but he has got all the tools to have a good tournament. I guess that a part which is slightly concerning for the  team. But then we have seven weeks from the tournament. That's potentially 10 more games for the guys to find form." 

Hardik Pandya was once the country No. 1 fast bowling allrounder. He is still is but his form has dwindled since he joined MI as captain.

"What I feel about Hardik Pandya is that Indian cricket needs to make it clear that they should not give him that much priority as they have given him so far, because we still haven't won the World Cup," Pathan said on Star Sports Press Room Show, Ticket to World Cup.

"If you think you are a primary all-rounder, you need to make that kind of an impact at the international level. As far as the all-rounder is concerned he hasn't made that impact at the international level, we are only thinking about the potential."

Is afe the criteris to pick squad for T20 World Cup? Former captain and ex-BCCI president Sourav Ganguly had an interesting take. "So there is no hard and fast rule for anything. The only hard and fast rule is talent, ability and performance. Look at MS Dhoni. He bats for 2 overs and hits 4 sixes. I would actually want him to bat more, but just see how good he is," he said

The T20 World Cup will start in the first week of June, but going by the form of the Indian players, half of the 'certain' picks are battling form. Rohit Sharma (311 in 9 games), Hardik Pandya (poor bowling), Virat Kohli (below average strike-rate), Arshdeep Singh (inconsistency), Rinku Singh (lack of game time), Mohammed Siraj (economy of 9.63) paint a very poor picture and India aim to mount another challenge. 

Shubman Gill recently said in multiple interviews that if can't 'back himself' after scoring 900 runs in the IPL 2023, then he does not know how he can be confident. But the fact is that though Shubman Gill scored 890 in IPL 2023, in IPL 2024 he has scored 304 in nine matches at an average of 38. For a top-order batter it may not be considered a great number. Yashasvi Jaiswal is in form too.  

The BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar is at the stadium but he would not like by what is on show. Hardik Pandya, India's NO. 1 allrounder, gave away 41 in just two overs. Rohit Sharma got out for 8 in Mumbai Indians' chase of 256. Both players are certain to be picked for the T20 World Cup, but are yet to light up the IPL 2024. A BIG, BIG cause of concern before BCCI selectors meet with Rohit Sharma.

Batters: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill/Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rinku Singh 

All-Rounders: Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja 

Wicket-Keeper: Rishabh Pant 

Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Yash Dayal, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal.

It has been a tough outing for both Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah in the IPL 2024 between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals. Hardik has been the worse among the two and this is not good news ahead of the T20 World Cup. With Ajit Agarkar in attendance, this has been a worrisome performance and he will want Rohit Sharma to do well. On the other hand, Rishabh Pant continues to make a solid case for his selection.

BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar attended the IPL 2024 game between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals. The fans believe that there can be a BCCI meeting soon in Delhi regarding the team selection and Agarkar can interact with skipper Rohit Sharma in relation to the players in contention.

Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Shivam Dube, Mayank Yadav, Sanju Samson.

Hardik Pandya's form has been absolutely horrible in IPL 2024 - both with bat and the ball. With the pressure of captaining Mumbai Indians not doing his any favours, the all-rounder has not provided any great show till now. As a result, the selectors will be torn while picking him for the T20 World Cup. While it is true that India does not have a proper replacement for a medium pacer all-rounder like him, Hardik's form is not helping his cause.

When it comes to India's squad for the T20 World Cup 2024, Shivam Dube has emerged as an interesting conundrum. There is no doubt over his form for Chennai Super Kings where has impressed fans as well as experts with his explosive batting. But his lack of bowling means that India will have to play him as a pure batter and in that case, the decision to lead to the exclusion of an out-and-out finisher like Rinku Singh.

In a surprising choice, former Indian cricket team star Sanjay Manjrekar has gone with side that does not have Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya and Rinku Singh too! Sanjay Manjrekar's squad for T20 WC 2024: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Avesh Khan, Harshit Rana, Mayank Yadav, Krunal Pandya

In the midst of all the talk about younsters, there have been some crazy suggestions too. Like MS Dhoni's 'wild card entry'.  Irfan Pathan and Aaron Finch discussed the possibility of putting MS Dhoni as a 'wildcard' for the T20 World Cup. "We could see a wildcard entry in India's T20 World Cup squad... MS Dhoni," former Australia captain Aaron Finch exclaimed on Star Sports, calling the suggestion as "the wildest card."
"If he says he wants to play the T20 World Cup, no one will deny him that chance...no one will mind, no one will have a problem with it. The guy is batting so well," Pathan replied. 

According to a report in news agency PTI, 10 slots are already filled in the squad with the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah certain t make the squad. Hardik Pandya, despite poor form, will be picked most likely. But the real contest is Shubman Gill vs Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rinku Singh vs Shivam Dube, according to the report. If both Gill and Jaiswal are picked, one from Rinku and Dube may miss out and vice-versa.

"If I am able to make it to this year's T20 World Cup, it would be nothing short of a dream coming true. Last year's World Cup experience would help me as we try to win the World Cup. After scoring almost 900 runs (in IPL) last season, I would obviously be disappointed as a player. I would still be cheering for the players and wish them the best," said Shubman Gill. 

Chennai Super Kings star batter Shivam Dube is in red-hot form in the ongoing IPL. In eight matches, he has scored 311 runs, at a strike rate of 169.95. His tally also includes three half-centuries. It will be really interesting to see whether he gets a spot in the Indian team for the T20 World Cup. The selectors have to make a tough choice for the middle-order batter between Dube and star batter Rinku Singh. 

Harbhajan Singh's India squad for T20 World Cup 2024: Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson (WK), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Mayank Yadav.

"See, as far as I'm concerned, Indian openers should be Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma, purely because of the right-hand and left-hand combination. Don't forget Yashasvi Jaiswal's international strike rate is 160 and you need that, you need that firepower. If Virat opens up the batting, what happens is that it will allow the combination of 11 to be in a certain way, which you want. If that happens, you might see Shivam Dube playing, if he's there in the squad," said Irfan Pathan. 

All eyes are on the announcement of the player, who will open alongside Rohit Sharma at the T20 World Cup 2024. Based on the current IPL form, both Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill are likely to lose the position of the openers with Virat Kohli being promoted to the No 1 position. Between Jaiswal and Gill, the former is more likely to get a spot at the marquee event. Jaiswal had a bittersweet start to the season but redeemed himself with a brilliant century. 

Young Lucknow Super Giants pacer Mayank Yadav stunned everyone with his terrific pace in the ongoing IPL. The 21-year-old pacer has consistently clocked deliveries over 150 kmph. He also bowled the fastest ball of the season at 156.7 kmph. However, he is currently out of action due to an injury. Despite giving a breathtaking performance, it is highly likely that he will be ignored as the selectors would not take the risk of taking a 21-year-old, inexperienced bowler to the big ICC event. 

Another big concern for the Indians selectors is to choose a perfect pacer to accompany Jasprit Bumrah. The Mumbai Indians pacer is in red-hot form and will surely make it to the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup. However, the other expected names like Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, etc had an underwhelming outing so far. Some former cricketers have suggested the name of Arshdeep while many have backed Lucknow Super Giants pacer Mayank Yadav. 

Ahead of the T20 World Cup, former Australia batter Aaron Finch painted a grim picture about three stars who are battling poor form. "I have got my eye on two people, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Hardik Pandya. Two guys who haven't been in the best form throughout this IPL so far and there is a bit of pressure building on both of them," said Finch. 

All-rounder Hardik Pandya's form is a big concern for the selectors currently. Hardik, who is leading Mumbai Indians in the ongoing IPL, is having mediocre outing with both bat and ball. So far, he has played eight matches and scored only 151 runs. With the ball, he has scalped four wickets at an economy of 10.94. The MI skipper is also going though a tough time as he has been constantly facing public criticism for replacing Rohit Sharma as the captain. However, it will be really interesting to see that how things will unfold. 

According to a report of Dainik Jagran, India skipper Rohit Sharma is likely to attend a meeting with BCCI selection committee chairman, Ajit Agarkar and other office bearers to discuss India's 15-member squad. The meeting is likely to be held on Saturday in Delhi, where Rohit Sharma will be playing for Mumbai Indians against Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2024 match. 

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Team India's squad announcement for the T20 World Cup 2024. Stay tuned for all the live updates.