Sanjay Manjrekar's choice for India's T20 World Cup 2024 squad is sparking debates:
With the Indian Premier League (IPL) wrapping up, cricket fans are eagerly awaiting the T20 World Cup 2024 set to commence in June. As anticipation grows, Indian cricket heavyweights are revealing their top 15 player picks. Most recently, Sanjay Manjrekar announced his favored lineup, notably excluding Virat Kohli and opting for Krunal Pandya over Hardik Pandya.
Manjrekar's decision has come as a shock to many, especially since Kohli has been in splendid form during the IPL season. Currently, he's an Orange Cap holder with a majestic average of 61.43 and a striking rate of 145.76 across nine matches, amassing a total of 430 runs. This has raised several eyebrows and questions regarding Manjrekar's selection criteria.
His choices may have been influenced by a game played on April 25 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), where Kohli scored 51 runs off 43 balls with a strike rate of 118.60. However, it's crucial to remember that just two years ago, Kohli delivered an unforgettable innings of 82 runs from 53 balls against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup, masterfully steering India's chase from 32-4 to a triumphant finish.
Captain Rohit Sharma, trio of wicketkeepers
Manjrekar has named Rohit Sharma as captain, while KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and Sanju Samson have been selected as wicketkeepers. Surprisingly, Shubman Gill failed to secure a spot in Manjrekar's team.
Two all-rounders, two spinners
Ravindra Jadeja and Krunal Pandya are the all-rounders in Manjrekar's squad, with Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal selected as specialist spinners — Chahal being the highest wicket-taker in the current IPL season.
Opportunities for two uncapped players
Manjrekar has also given a chance to uncapped talents Harshit Rana and Mayank Yadav in his probable T20 World Cup team. Yadav has been a speedster for Lucknow Super Giants, winning Player of the Match in the first two games, while Rana has been impressive in domestic cricket and in his performances for KKR in the IPL.
The T20 World Cup 2024 Indian team selected by Sanjay Manjrekar includes:
Rohit Sharma (Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (Wicketkeeper), KL Rahul (Wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, Avesh Khan, Harshit Rana, Mayank Yadav, and Krunal Pandya.
