The deadline for the T20 World Cup 2024 squad announcement remains only two days away, with the International Cricket Council (ICC) setting May 01 as the final date for cricket boards. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selection committee chief was spotted in New Delhi over the weekend to have a chat with Team India captain Rohit Sharma over certain selection calls. However, the board hasn't yet announced the 15-member unit it wishes to send to the West Indies and USA for the showpiece event.
As per a report in the Times of India, the selection committee is still undecided over four important areas of the game. Whether to stick with tried and tested combinations or bank on young players' IPL form and give them a go in the T20 World Cup, remains a tough call for the board and selectors to take.
Back-up Wicket-keeper: While Rishabh Pant's name has reportedly emerged at the top of the wicket-keeping pecking order, the selectors are said to be undecided between KL Rahul and Sanju Samson. Both are different kinds of players, with contrasting form too. While Samson's performance in the IPL has been exceptional, Rahul's experience is also valued by the board.
The Third Opener: Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli could open for India in the T20 World Cup but the third opener's spot is wide open. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill don't have form in their favour while the likes of KL Rahul and Sanju Samson could also be used at the top of the batting order. It remains an incredibly tough decision for the BCCI to make.
Pace bowling unit: Jasprit Bumrah is the No. 1 pick in the team while Mohammed Siraj seems to be edging the battle for the No. 2 spot but he doesn't have performances to back his case. Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar and Arshdeep Singh are some of the other options that are being considered.
"The team management wants to trust the players it has groomed. There are concerns about Siraj and Arshdeep going for so many runs but one has to look at the context. In these matches, you have to think about defending the target set by your team-even if you do it by 10 runs. Jasprit Bumrah is different class. The others should not be compared with him. There won't be 'impact player' rule in the World Cup. Axar Patel, for example, has been exemplary with his economy rate," TOI quoted a source as aying.
The Power Hitters: The likes of Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja have looked off-coloured in the IPL this season. Their underperformance in the middle-order is a concern, prompting the selectors to seriously consider the likes of Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh. Even someone like Tilak Varma can be considered, owing to an excellent IPL form, but his chances are limited.