Former Indian fast bowler Zaheer Khan has picked his 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024. The veteran has also picked RCB pacer Yash Dayal saying he would bring out a new dimension in the bowling, especially when Mohammed Shami is injured and not available for the selection.
“With Mohammed Shami unavailable due to injury, Yash Dayal’s versatility makes him a strong option for India’s 15-man T20 World Cup squad. He can deliver with the new ball and can bowl effectively at the death. He can play multiple roles depending on match situations and other bowlers’ form,” Zaheer Khan said.
Zaheer Khan’s decision to include Rishabh Pant as the only wicketkeeper in the squad came as a surprise. However, he clarified that he chose to prioritize having four main pace bowlers instead of a backup wicketkeeper. He recognized the talent of players like KL Rahul and Sanju Samson, who could also step in if necessary.
“Rishabh Pant is my first-choice wicketkeeper because I prioritized selecting four fast bowlers for the team. Sacrificing a pace bowler to include a second wicketkeeper would reduce our bowling options. We do have other wicketkeeping options like KL Rahul, Sanju Samson, and Dinesh Karthik, who many want to see play. At this stage, we could also consider the veteran Mahendra Singh Dhoni given his tremendous strike rate. I expect the focus will be on current wicketkeepers like Samson, Rahul, or possibly Jitesh Sharma. The traveling reserve wicketkeeper spot remains open for discussion,” he added.
Zaheer Khan picked 16 players for his squad but mentioned that either Shubman Gill or Yashasvi Jaiswal would be chosen as the second opener along with Indian opener Rohit Sharma.
“The selectors face a difficult decision in choosing only one opener between two excellent candidates, Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal. I believe they will select just one of the openers to allow flexibility in the batting order, as the selectors wants players who can fulfill multiple roles rather than be limited to a single position,” he concluded.
Zaheer Khan’s India squad for T20 WC:
Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill/Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Yash Dayal, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal.
