On Monday, the BCCI announced a star-studded Indian squad for the T20 World Cup, highlighting the comeback of Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel from their injury layoffs. Although the public anticipated the team list toward the end of the week, the selection panel met early on September 12 to finalize the 15-man roster destined for the ICC event in Australia, starting October 16.
The reserves list includes Deepak Chahar, Shreyas Iyer, Ravi Bishnoi, and the experienced 32-year-old pacer Mohammed Shami. The inclusion of Bumrah and Patel is a major win for the pace attack, as both had been sidelined during the Asia Cup by a side strain and a back injury.
Having completed their rehabilitation at Bengaluru's National Cricket Academy, both bowlers were deemed fully fit by selectors to assist India's quest for a second world title. They'll be supported by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh. Even though India didn't reach the Asia Cup final, the performance of the pacers was highly impressive.
In a surprising move, Mohammed Shami is also back in the mix, despite not appearing in a T20I since the previous World Cup. While many critics questioned his absence from the Asia Cup, it's clear the selectors still value his skill set. For the batting lineup, the top order remains anchored by captain Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and a resurgent Virat Kohli, whose return to top form is a huge advantage. The middle order will be managed by Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav.
In batting, the top-order will be taken care of by skipper Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Virat Kohli. Kohli returning to his prime form is a good sign for team India. Suryakumar Yadav and all-rounder Hardik Pandya will be playing in the middle -order.
The wicketkeeping duties will be split between Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pant, leaving Sanju Samson out of the squad. The selectors are sticking with Pant despite a dip in his recent T20I form, giving him a chance to bounce back. Meanwhile, Ravindra Jadeja's knee injury has cost him his spot, with Axar Patel stepping in to fill the gap. Interestingly, Deepak Hooda remains in the team despite a string of poor performances. On the spin front, Yuzvendra Chahal and the experienced Ravichandran Ashwin will lead the attack.