The likes of Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav were automatic choices in India's T20 World Cup 2024 squad but the others made the cut with their exploits in the ongoing IPL. Nine of 15 players picked in the T20 World Cup 2024 squad were also part of the team that went to Australia for the last edition of the tournament in 2022. Here is the lowdown on the selected India players' performance in the IPL so far: 1) Rohit Sharma: He has been among the standout batters for Mumbai Indians in what is turning out to be a forgettable season for the five-time champions. In 9 matches, he has scored 311 at an excellent strike-rate of 160.30 with a top score of 105 not out against Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium. 2) Hardik Pandya: A debatable selection as he is enduring a disastrous IPL. Appointed MI's captain under controversial circumstances, Hardik has scored 197 runs, which includes 10 sixes, in nine IPL matches so far. When it comes to bowling, he has taken four wickets at an economy of 11.95. 3) Yashasvi Jaiswal: The Rajasthan Royals opener had a string of low scores before a 59-ball hundred against Mumbai Indians brought him right back into contention. Also Read: The sting of exclusion 4) Virat Kohli: In the run-up to the Indian team selection, there was a lot of chatter around the strike-rate of the game's all-time great in T20s, but he silenced his detractors by amassing 500 runs at a strike rate nearly 150 in 10 matches. 5) Suryakumar Yadav: One of the highlights of Surya's campaign this season is his belligerent 78-run nock against Punjab Kings. Playing in his first competitive tournament after recovering from twin surgeries, he also has a 19-ball 52 to his credit. 6) Rishabh Pant: Returning to top-flight cricket after recovering from injuries sustained in a horrific car accident, he displayed tremendous form and struck 371 runs in 10 matches at a fine strike rate of 160.60. Additionally, he has also impressed with his keeping while captaining Delhi Capitals. 7) Sanju Samson: The Rajasthan Royals captain has been going great guns and has scored 385 runs at a strike rate of 161.08. He has to his credit four half-centuries, with his highest being an unbeaten 82. 8) Shivam Dube: In nine matches so far, Dube has totalled 350 runs for CSK at an average of 58.33 and a stellar strike-rate of 172.41. He, though, hasn't bowled. 9) Ravindra Jadeja: In nine matches, the CSK all-rounder has scored 157 runs with a best of 57 not out. He has also taken five wickets. 10) Axar Patel: This spin bowler-cum-handy batter has scored close to 150 runs including a half-century and has also taken nine wickets with his economical bowling, enough to impress the national selectors. 11) Kuldeep Yadav: In nine matches, he has impressed with 12 wickets, including best figures of 4/55, and was a certainty in T20 World Cup squad considering his form over the past 12 months. 12) Yuzvendra Chahal: The leg-spinner has been a standout performer with 13 wickets in nine matches. Recently, he also became the first bowler to claim 200 wickets in the tournament's history. 13) Arshdeep Singh: The left-arm seamer has picked 12 wickets in nine games, with the four-wicket burst against Sunrisers Hyderabad earlier this month being the high point of his campaign. 14) Jasprit Bumrah: The pace ace has been having a fabulous season and is leading the wicket's column with 14 scalps in nine games at an economy rate of just 6.63. 15) Mohammed Siraj: He has been off-colour and has gone for plenty of runs, forcing the RCB think tank to even drop him for a match. He has taken six wickets in nine matches.
01 May,2024 09:27 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentPakistan cricket authorities have suggested the International Cricket Council to schedule India's qualifying round matches only in one city during the Champions Trophy next year. The Pakistan Cricket Board, slated to host the upcoming edition of the Champions Trophy in 2025, has picked three cities in Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore, which also gets the final, as venues to organise the tournament. "The ICC general manager Wasim Khan also recently visited Lahore where he discussed the Champions Trophy arrangements with the PCB top brass and it was suggested that the Indian team's travel itinerary be kept to a minimum," a PCB source informed. The source added that India could play its initial qualifying round games at Karachi before proceeding to the venues for the knockouts. Also Read: PCB finalises venues for the mega event With their cricket engagements restricted only to ICC tournaments, the Indian cricket team has not played in Pakistan since 2008. Last year, the Indian cricket board did not send the national team for the Asia Cup which was eventually held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka in a hybrid model. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has maintained that all teams would play the Champions Trophy in Pakistan as per schedule. He also informed that stadium renovation work would commence soon, with the tournament expected to be held in February-March 2025. The last season of the Champions Trophy was held in the year 2017 in England and is expected to come into action in February-March next year. If the 'Men in Blue' does not get clearance from the government, the ICC could use the hybrid model to ensure their participation. The ICC has already made it clear that it will not ask any member nation to defy government policy. "We've sent the schedule for the matches in Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy," PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi was quoted as saying at a press conference in Lahore. "The ICC's security team came and we had a very good meeting. They looked at arrangements here and we'll also share stadium upgrade plans with them. We are trying to ensure we host a very good tournament in Pakistan," Naqvi informed. (With inputs from agencies)
01 May,2024 07:33 PM IST | Lahore | mid-day online correspondentPakistan skipper Babar Azam has closed the gap on India dynamo Suryakumar Yadav at the top of the ICC T20I rankings with his team managing to draw the latest series against New Zealand. Babar was Pakistan's leading run-scorer during the enthralling series that ended tied at 2-2, with the right-hander scoring a half-century in the fifth T20I of the series to finish with a total of 125 runs from four innings at the top of his side's batting order. Pakistan won the fifth T20I with the first match being washed out due to rain. His performance helped him improve one spot to fourth on the updated list of ICC T20I rankings for batters and boost his rating by a total of 10 points to 763, with Suryakumar now just 98 rating points ahead of the Pakistan skipper ahead of ICC Men's T20 World Cup which starts on June 1. Babar's Pakistan teammate Fakhar Zaman also made good ground in the latest rankings update. The attacking left-hander has improved 10 places to 62nd place on the back of his 104 runs in the series. Also Read: The sting of exclusion New Zealand's biggest eye-catcher was Tim Seifert, with the experienced right-hander jumping seven places to equal seventh after compiling 85 runs for the series at a decent strike rate of 144.06. There was also a boost for Pakistan and New Zealand players on the updated list for T20I bowlers, with pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi jumping three places to 14th following his eight scalps across four matches against the Kiwis. Meanwhile, the BCCI on Tuesday announced the Rohit Sharma-led squad after a meeting between secretary Jay Shah and chief selector Ajit Agarkar in Ahmedabad. Wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson and spinner Yuzvendra Chahal were on Tuesday named in India's provisional squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 in the Americas but star batter Shubman Gill and the big-hitting Rinku Singh found themselves relegated to the reserves group. (With agency inputs)
01 May,2024 05:50 PM IST | Dubai | mid-day online correspondentThe drop-in pitches prepared for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 are being transported from Florida to New York in semi-trailer trucks for installation at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, the ICC said on Tuesday. Among other matches, the venue will also host the marquee India-Pakistan group stage fixture on June 9. Ten drop-in pitches have been prepared in Florida since late December, employing proprietary techniques honed over a decade at Adelaide Oval, the ICC said in a press release. The development of the pitches has been undertaken by Adelaide Oval Turf Solutions, led by renowned Adelaide Oval head curator Damian Hough. "The pitches, cultivated with native Tahoma 31 Bermuda grass, have been meticulously nurtured in Florida by Adelaide Oval Turf Solutions and US-based sports turf experts LandTek Group, undergoing continuous care and maintenance over the past three months." Also Read: The sting of exclusion Four pitches will be set up at the Nassau stadium, with an additional six designated for neighbouring practice facilities. The Adelaide Oval Turf Solutions team will remain in New York to assist local grounds crews in pitch maintenance throughout the tournament to ensure world-class pitches. The drop-in square, the type used around the world including at Adelaide Oval and Eden Park, has been curated in Florida and transported by road to New York via a convoy of more than 20 semi-trailer trucks. The outfield was laid last week by LandTek who have worked with the New York Yankees and New York Mets as well as Inter Miami CF on their stadium and training fields. ICC Head of Events Chris Tetley said: "The installation of these pitches is one of the final pieces in a project that is unprecedented in international cricket. "We have taken a considered and well-planned approach to this project, using the very best in the business in Damian Hough to ensure we have the best possible playing surface for eight World Cup matches in New York." The T20 World Cup 2024 will be held from June 2-29 in the USA and West Indies. Adelaide Oval head curator, Damian Hough said: "We are excited to see the arrival of the pitches here in New York. Florida proved to be the ideal nursery for the pitches with good weather, and working alongside great partners like LandTek has been fantastic and everything is coming together as it should." The matches in New York will take place at a state-of-the-art 34,000-seat modular stadium located at Eisenhower Park in Nassau County, east of Manhattan. Nine teams will feature in New York including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Canada, Ireland, Bangladesh, South Africa, the Netherlands, and the USA, with the first match taking place on June 3 between 2014 champions Sri Lanka and South Africa. (With agency inputs)
01 May,2024 05:37 PM IST | New York | mid-day online correspondent
The clock struck quarter past four. About six television channels simultaneously telecast live the announcement of Team India’s 15-man provisional squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup in June. This, at a time when the fervour of Lok Sabha general elections is engulfing the entire nation. Needless to say, the pervasive influence of cricket manifests in the ordinary act of squad announcements, transforming it into a captivating spectacle. “Chacha, World Cup ka sapna bhul jaao. Iss baar bhi samjho hamare haat se gaya (Uncle, give up on your hopes of seeing India win the World Cup. It is out of our reach now),” a resounding voice pierced through the air. “Koi baat nahi beta, bharosa rakho. Jeetna haarna toh khel ka hissa hain (Don’t worry, get your hopes up. Winning and losing is a part of the game),” replied 67-year-old Vinayak Tiwari, a tea vendor outside Bandra’s MIG Cricket Club. As Tiwari busied himself with preparing and serving tea, his stall evolved into a hub of discussions and debates surrounding the World Cup squad. Indian cricket is facing a dilemma at the moment, albeit a good one. There are simply too many decent batting options for the T20 format, but only limited spots remained for grabs for the World Cup. Rinku Singh and Shivam Dube are to blame for making selectors scratch their heads while formulating the batting setup. Rinku was a future prospect that was meant to be kept under the wings for grooming, but who knew he would disobey and take off on his own given the opportunity? A 26-year-old put out there to get some exposure ended up rattling those up the ranks when it came to exhibiting his prowess across all facets of cricket. Life, however, decided to change his fate on Tuesday. Dube, another all-rounder, who was considered too slow to pick up wickets, was boldly put into the squad ahead of in-form Rinku to toil hard alongside big names. Dube has managed to produce magic over the last two IPLs for CSK and the selectors must have considered his power-hitting abilities during India's recent T20 series win in January. Sure, in that case, why not spare some thought into Rinku’s faultless performance since his India debut? If IPL really bore no influence on squad selection, how was Rinku’s stellar strike rate of 176.23 across 15 T20Is brazenly disregarded? Being relegated to reserves is no less than a snub in itself, does a player of his stature deserve to be at the mercy of another? Experienced wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul must have, in all probability, on Tuesday, found himself in a state of apprehension akin to watching a horror film unfold, as his name appeared nowhere on the screen. But selectors thought differently this time, having prioritised flamboyance over reliability, favouring Pant’s consistency with keeping as well as batting. A batsman who has shots all around the park in crunch situations, Rahul's experience, consistency and technique is second to none. His exclusion leaves us a lot to think about. Is this a mere slap on the wrist to get his act together, or is it the end of the road for Rahul in the T20 format? Selectors can at least take pride in the fact that they have won a few hearts down South after Samson’s inclusion. The Royals skipper is truly an unsung hero, his stats show why! If not better, but for some odd reason, he never managed to garner the same love from selectors. Usually always selected to warm the bench, and occasionally asked to play when everyone else has failed, his chest should be swollen with pride. Newly-appointed Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya seemed imbued with pure happiness as his side took the field against Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday. His captaincy and recent performances have landed him in hot water. Questions regarding his dip in form are circulating in the media and while he hasn’t been completely ineffective, he is leaking runs more than usual. Under such circumstances, I dare say his absence could have made little to no difference in the squad, given how Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja can turn things around with the willow besides bowling. At least that would have helped a more deserving candidate have a crack at the opposition. One need not spend long wandering about to know that nearly every Indian fan thinks he or she would do a better job of selecting squads than those presently tasked with doing it. Tuesday was no different. Hopefully, if India does reach the final again this year, they won’t watch it with their heads buried in the sand. Disclaimer: The views expressed here are the author’s personal views and do not represent the views of Mid-Day.
01 May,2024 05:30 PM IST | Mumbai | Srijanee MajumdarIndian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson posted a heartwarming message on social media following his inclusion in squad for T20 World Cup 2024. The hard work and consistency shown by Samson as a Rajasthan Royals skipper and batter during the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) paid off as he was selected along with Rishabh Pant as the wicketkeeper-batter in the squad. Following the squad announcement, the Kerala-born batter took to Instagram and posted in Malayalam, "Viyarpu Thuniyitta Kuppayam", which translates to "Shirt stitched of sweat and hardwork." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sanju V Samson (@imsanjusamson) Samson made his T20I debut, which also happened to be his international debut, back in 2015 against Zimbabwe, but over the years, he got very few chances to play due to better performances from other players, the presence of MS Dhoni and Pant in the wicketkeeper slot and his inconsistency. His T20I statistics do not really give justice to his talent and hitting abilities. In 25 T20Is, he has made just 374 runs at an average of 18.70 and a strike rate of 133.09, with a solitary fifty. His best score is 77. However, his performances in the IPL have been really good. In 161 matches of his IPL career, he has made 4,273 runs at an average of 30.96 at a strike rate of 139.04, with three centuries and 24 fifties. His best score is 119. Also Read: Misters and Misses This ongoing IPL season is shaping up to be his best one. Not only is his side at the top with eight wins in nine games, but Samson has shown next-level consistency with the bat, scoring 385 runs at an average of 77.00 and a strike rate of over 161, with four half-centuries. His best score is 82*. Currently, he is the seventh-highest run-getter in the tournament. His competitor for the slot, KL Rahul, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) skipper and Pant have also done well in the IPL so far. In 10 matches, KL has scored 406 runs at an average of 40.60, with a strike rate of 142.95 and three half-centuries. His best score is 82*. He is the fourth-highest run-scorer in the tournament. Pant is the fifth-highest run-getter, with 398 runs at an average of 44.22, with a strike rate of 158.56 and three half-centuries. His best score is 88*. India are placed in Group A of the tournament alongside arch-rivals Pakistan, Ireland, Canada and co-hosts USA. Their campaign begins on June 5 against Ireland at the newly-constructed Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York before they take on Pakistan on June 9 in one of the most awaited matches of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. (With agency inputs)
01 May,2024 05:22 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFormer India cricketer Krishnamachari Srikkanth hit out at the Indian selection committee for not keeping Rinku Singh in the 15-member squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 and said that the 26-year-old batter was made the "scapegoat". Rinku made his T20 debut in 2023 against Ireland, following that he has played 15 matches and 11 innings in which he scored 356 runs at a strike rate of 176.24. The left-handed batter played his last 20-over match for India against Afghanistan in January 2024. India will begin their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign against Ireland on June 05, 2024, at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York, followed by the marquee clash against Pakistan on June 09, 2024 at the same venue. India will then play the USA and Canada on June 12 and 15 respectively. While speaking on his official YouTube channel, Srikkanth pointed out Rinku's unbeaten 69-run knock against the Afghan side in the 3rd T20I. He also slammed the Indian selectors and called it a "rubbish" selection. "He has played match-winning knocks in South Africa. Remember the game against Afghanistan in which Rohit scored a hundred? India were 22 for 4, from there, they scored 212. Rinku played a crucial Knock. He has given his all whenever he played for India. This is rubbish, rubbish selection. Why do you need 4 spinners? All of them have to go? You have made the selection to please a few people and you have made Rinku Singh a scapegoat," Srikkanth said. The former India skipper further added that Rinku performed well at every opportunity he has got and he should have been there in the 15-member squad. "I am not at all happy. Come on all of you. Rinku Singh has been spoken about all over the world. He has performed in each and every opportunity he has got. How can you drop Rinku Singh? You drop anyone else, it doesn't matter. In my view, Rinku Singh should have been there, even if that meant you had to drop Yashasvi Jaiswal," he added. Also Read: The sting of exclusion India have added two wicket-keepers, including Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson, to their squad. Star batter Virat Kohli, who has been slamming runs in the ongoing IPL 2024 has also been added into the squad. Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh Khan have been named as reserved players. India are placed in Group A of the ICC tournament alongside arch-rivals Pakistan, Ireland, Canada and co-hosts USA. India Squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Hardik Pandya (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (Wk), Sanju Samson (Wk), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj. (With agency inputs)
01 May,2024 05:10 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFour spinners in India's T20 World Cup 2024 squad suggest that the Indian selectors are expecting slow turners in the Americas but have they missed a trick by picking only three pacers in the final 15? Also questionable is the choice of pacers. Before the IPL began, Jasprit Bumrah was the lone certainty in the pace department while the other contenders had to prove themselves in the league. As it turned out on Tuesday, the selectors chose to play safe and picked Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh to support the one-of-a-kind Bumrah in the T20 World Cup 2024 beginning June 1. The likes of Sandeep Sharma, Avesh Khan and T Natarajan, who all have impressed with their death bowling skills in this IPL, were ignored. Both Siraj and Arshdeep, who have played 10 and 44 T20 Internationals respectively, have not had the best of times in the IPL but they have got the nod on the basis of their past performances for India. The duo has the ability to swing the new ball but in the shortest format, how one handles batters' onslaught in the death overs is equally important if not more. That is one aspect of the game in which both Arshdeep and Siraj have been off the mark in the IPL. Siraj has leaked run at 9.50 runs per over while Arshdeep has been unusually expensive, leaking 9.63 runs per over though he has 12 wickets to his name in nine games. He picked up 10 wickets during the 2022 T20 World Cup. Also Read: The sting of exclusion In the left-arm pacer's case, his form in the death overs has been worrying but the selectors have also considered his healthy record in national colours, having taken 62 wickets at a striking average of 20.87 and a decent economy rate of 8.63. Siraj has an economy rate of 8.78 in 10 T20 Internationals. In former chief selector MSK Prasad's opinion, taking three pacers to the World Cup will be enough and he is also fine with the chosen men. "The pitches over there are expected to assist the slower bowlers and that is why they have gone with four spin options. "In the playing eleven, I see only two specialist pacers playing alongside Hardik Pandya," Prasad, who is currently a strategic consultant with Lucknow Super Giants, told PTI. "I would like to start with Bumrah and Siraj but the management can rotate between Siraj and Arshdeep depending on the composition of opposition batters." Prasad described it as a "balanced squad" even though he felt K L Rahul deserved a place. "On the batting front, it is unfortunate that someone of K L Rahul's quality has missed but I am sure he will make a strong comeback," said the former India wicketkeeper, who would also like to see both Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal in the playing eleven. However, all don't agree with Prasad's views on India's bowling composition for the ICC event. T20 World Cup-winning captain Aaron Finch feels Bumrah needed more support in the pace department with Siraj and Arshdeep not being consistent enough. "I was surprised by the four spinners as well. I had Rinku (Singh) in there and only two spinners. "In my initial squad, I had the extra quick because I think, because of the inconsistency that we have seen with everyone bar Jasprit Bumrah with the ball, especially in the power-play, I wanted the extra cover of that quick," he said. "And if they want to play three spinners in the game, one of them has to be prepared to bowl in the powerplay, and I don't see any of those guys doing it consistently, so I think they've backed themselves into a corner slightly," Finch told 'Star Sports'. Former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop added that four spinners in a squad of 15 is more of a luxury than necessity. "I guess spin will play a part in the tournament. The only concern I have is that the pitches for the World Cup may be slightly different from the ones we have seen in bilateral series or domestic tournaments. So I think it's a luxury to have four spinners rather than it being a necessity," said Bishop. (With agency inputs)
01 May,2024 04:53 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentShivam Dube's enhanced game understanding and completeness have impressed Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming who is confident in the left-handed all-rounder's ability to make an "impact" in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. The 30-year-old, who is the second leading run-scorer for the defending champions in the ongoing IPL, made the cut to the 15-member Indian squad for the T20 global showpiece in the USA and West Indies beginning on June 1. "He is a lot more complete in terms of what he is trying to do, understanding his game, and that comes from experience," Fleming said ahead of their match against Punjab Kings. "We have worked hard on areas he wasn't so strong, but also continuing to develop his strength. So, if that form continues, he is going to be an impactful player for India (at the World Cup)." Dube has 350 runs in nine outings at a strike rate of 172.41, including three half-centuries. "He has been fantastic. He has proven this year that there is a lot more to him than just playing spin (better)," said the former Kiwi skipper. CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, who is their leading scorer with 447 runs including one century and three fifties, missed out in the squad. Asked if it was harsh to Gaikwad, Fleming said: "No... I understand the quality of players India have to try and select, (it) is very difficult. Ruturaj has done what he can, and he must be close," he said. Also Read: The sting of exclusion "We hold him in the highest regard. I love the craft that he shows, and his (last) two performances have been quite majestic. "It's not just wham-bham, but he has displayed the mastery of batting. And the form that he is right now and the control that he has, it's quite outstanding. "It's not now, but there will be another change for him. If he continues his form and keeps playing well throughout the year, I will be very surprised if he is not called in." Commenting further on his batting and leadership, Fleming said: "His batting has continued from what it was. He has been spectacular the last few years. "As for captaincy, he has taken it up in his stride as he has also led his domestic team. He is very much in the mould of CSK. Very understated, lowkey and incredibly calm." The Impact Player rule continues to be a topic of debate in this IPL, with some experts expressing their apprehensions about it, remarking that it could affect team selections. Asked if the overseas T20 league also should embrace it, he said: "No, I wouldn't (take it overseas)." "I like the challenge of picking all-rounders to get a bit more balance in your team across departments. The way I see it now, you could hardly bowl a team out as the batters just keep coming. "The challenge here is entertainment. If you want fours and sixes, it's (Impact Player rule) a tick. But, from the purest cricketing point of view, it's shifted the balance too far in favour of batting. It also hides selection issues, rather than having the subtle challenge of getting your selections right and nurturing all-rounders, who are an important part of the game," he concluded. (With agency inputs)
01 May,2024 09:12 AM IST | Chennai | mid-day online correspondentVeteran batter Steve Smith, young batting sensation Jake Fraser-McGurk, experienced seamer Jason Behrendorff and all-rounder Matt Short all missed out as 2021 T20 World Cup champions named their squad for the marquee short-format tournament in the West Indies and the USA from June 1 onwards. Left-arm spinner Ashton Agar won a recall despite not having played a T20I since the last T20 World Cup on Australian soil in 2022, while all-rounders Marcus Stoinis and Cameron Green also earned a place in the final squad despite some indifferent form in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), as per the ICC. All-rounder Mitchell Marsh will captain the side. Selection chair George Bailey said he believed Australia has a well-balanced squad and is confident of a strong showing in the T20 World Cup 2024. "This is an experienced squad with extensive World Cup experience that offers a variety of structures and covers the scenarios the panel believes will factor in the West Indies with the unique nature of the venues and our opponents," Bailey said, as quoted by the ICC. "It is great to have Ashton Agar back in the squad following a spate of unfortunate and untimely injuries. We believe Ashton can play a critical role in this tournament along with Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Cam Green and Mitch Marsh in complementing our front-line attack options. The batting options available allow a tailored approach to each venue and opponent," he added. Also Read: 'Made the selection to please a few people': Srikkanth Bailey noted that the squad size of 15 left many in-form players unlucky to miss selection. "Steve Smith, Matt Short, Jason Behrendorff, Aaron Hardie, Spencer Johnson and Xavier Bartlett were all part of long conversations, along with several others, including Jake Fraser-McGurk, who is yet to play T20 international cricket but continues to impress and is developing rapidly," Bailey said. ""Being constrained to a squad of 15 for World Cups is always a challenge given the different scenarios and options we would like to cover. We will continue monitoring several players who have missed out on this preliminary squad and note that if we need to change this squad, we have the option to do so over the coming month in accordance with ICC regulations." "Ultimately the balance of the final 15 needs to provide the best chance of being successful in this campaign," he concluded. Australia open their T20 World Cup campaign against Oman in Barbados on June 5, before Group B fixtures against England, Namibia and Scotland. Australia squad for T20 World Cup 2024: Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, and Adam Zampa. (With agency inputs)
01 May,2024 08:45 AM IST | Melbourne | mid-day online correspondentLegendary India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar feels there is no reason to get overly worried about Hardik Pandya's bowling form going into the T20 World Cup 2024, saying the all-rounder will be a "different player" in national colours. Pandya was retained as vice-captain of the 15-member squad announced by the BCCI on Tuesday despite his ordinary form for Mumbai Indians in the ongoing IPL. The MI captain has scored 197 runs and taken just four wickets in 10 games with his team languishing in ninth spot. "There's a big difference playing in the IPL and playing for your country. Playing for your country brings out something different in every player and Hardik Pandya will be a different player," said Gavaskar on Sports Today. "He's had to face a lot of issues in this particular tournament (IPL), he's handled it quite well. When he goes overseas and has to play for India, I think he will be in a completely different frame of mind. "And that's going to be a much more positive frame of mind than maybe what we have seen here in this tournament. So, Hardik Pandya will make a contribution with both bat and ball in this tournament," added Gavaskar. Pandya was booed in the initial few IPL matches after he took over the Mumbai Indians captaincy from Rohit Sharma, who has guided the franchise to five titles. Gavaskar also felt, this Indian side has the capability to bring back the World Cup. Also Read: The sting of exclusion "They are title contenders, without a question. At the international level, sometimes you need a bit of luck and if this Indian team has just that little bit of luck, then I'm very confident that after 2007 (triumph), the T20 World Cup 2024 will come back to India." The former India skipper felt all the players would be perfectly conditioned going into the mega event given that they would have played a lot of cricket in the IPL. "They'll go with good rhythm (following the IPL); the bowlers would have bowled a fair bit of overs, the batters will have enough time out in the middle, some of them would have scored 80s, 90s 100s. "So, clearly, this team will go with that little break... a week break (between the conclusion of IPL and start of the World Cup). With that little break, they will be a little bit refreshed, but at the same time not rusty." The IPL ends on May 26 while India play their first World Cup match against Ireland in New York on June 5. (With agency inputs)
01 May,2024 08:37 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
