The Indian cricket team did not include a single player who was picked for the T20 World Cup 2024 in the IPL 2024 final between Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad. The only other person who wasn’t chosen in the tournament reserves was Rinku Singh. Wasim Akram, the legendary fast bowler from Pakistan, quickly said that the Indian players might be “thinking ahead” in order to get some rest before the event, but it might also be a “blessing in disguise” for Rohit Sharma and company.
“Well, now at least none of them will have to say that they are tired. They were thinking ahead, what is the point of reaching the final, India is more important, we will play with the country. But it could be a blessing in disguise for India,” Akram was quoted as saying by Sportskeeda.
Along with reserves Shubman Gill and Khaleel Ahmed, the initial group of players—which included Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj—left for New York on Monday.
Meanwhile Virat Kohli has also left to join team India’s squad ahead of their warm-up match against Bangladesh which is scheduled to be played on June 1.
Team India will begin their quest for the cup from June 5 with their opening game against Ireland.