The 15-member Indian squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup was announced a few days ago on April 30 by the Ajit Agarkar-led Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selection committee.
Hardik Pandya’s Appointment as Indian Cricket Team Vice-Captain Sparks Controversy and Praise
The appointment of Hardik Pandya as the Indian cricket team’s vice captain is hurting cricket experts more than the removal of important players like Rinku Singh and Shubman Gill from the starting lineup.
Mohammed Kaif, a former Indian player who is renowned for his superb fielding abilities, has backed Pandya’s selection and referred to him as the match winner with the greatest impact in ICC events.
“I consider Hardik Pandya to be the most impactful match winner in the ICC events, surpassing even Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav. Recall the India vs Pakistan matches. In Melbourne, Virat Kohli scored 82 runs, but it was Hardik Pandya who forged a crucial 40-run partnership and took three wickets. In the Asia Cup, during the match against Pakistan, Hardik Pandya showcased his finishing prowess by delivering in the final over against Nawaz, rescuing the team after Dinesh Karthik and Jadeja were dismissed,” said Mohammed Kaif.
Mohammed Kaif Emphasizes Mental Strength for India’s Success in Crucial Matches, Highlights Challenges of T20 World Cup Format
Kaif stated that the players’ mindset in the elimination games is what counts most for India to win the matches, regardless of the BCCI’s player selection and exclusion of important players.
Regarding India’s prospects of winning the Twenty20 World Cup, Kaif responded, “Yes, absolutely. It’s a really well-rounded side. But it’s important to realise that this isn’t the Indian Premier League. There are 14 league matches in the IPL, and even if you lose, you can always come back to win the trophy. The World Cup format, however, is different in that weaker teams play against each other early on. All of a sudden, you face strong opponents like Pakistan or England in the semi-finals. In order to receive the trophy, you need to win two important games.
India’s Squad for T20 World Cup 2024
Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Hardik Pandya (VC), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
Reserve Players: Rinku Singh, Avesh Khan, Shubhman Gill, Khaleel Ahmed
