With cricket fans and connoisseurs alike pondering over the potential composition of the Indian squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup in 2024, former Indian cricket team pacer S. Sreesanth has made early predictions that spark a blend of enthusiasm and surprise. While the fast bowler’s forecast largely retains the core team from the Cricket World Cup 2023, it conspicuously excludes notable players such as Ravichandran Ashwin and talented opener Shubman Gill.
Sreesanth’s envisioning of the future team includes the promising Yashasvi Jaiswal, who, according to him, could serve as an explosive opening batter. Furthermore, the prospects of current captain Rohit Sharma continuing to lead the side in the 2024 T20 campaign were deemed uncertain by Sreesanth, who suggested that Sharma’s participation will hinge on a variety of factors. Nonetheless, should Sharma be available, his record of multiple Indian Premier League (IPL) triumphs makes him a worthy captain, according to Sreesanth. Alternatively, the mantle of leadership may fall to Hardik Pandya.
“Will Rohit Sharma be playing or not is a big question. He’ll be captain because he has won all those IPLs. Either Rohit Sharma or Hardik Pandya will be captain depending on the situation, the surroundings,” Sreesanth shared with Sportskeeda.
In his speculative team roster, Sreesanth has reincorporated Rishabh Pant as one-third of the wicket-keeping troika, featuring alongside KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan. This marks a significant development following Pant’s tragic car accident, which put him off the field for over a year due to his injuries. Former BCCI President Sourav Ganguly confirmed that Pant is poised for a comeback and will participate in the 2024 IPL.
“Rishabh Pant, if he’s fit, should be there as the third keeper because he might need some time to come back to the setup. We need a match-winner, not someone who just sticks around. We need a player who is ready to play and win matches. That’s as of now. He might be the second or first wicketkeeper depending on form,” stated Sreesanth, indicating the dynamic nature of the selection process based on players’ fitness and form.
Sreesanth also voiced his opinion that talent scouts and selectors should pay close attention to performances in domestic competitions such as the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, as well as the IPL, to uncover fresh and promising cricketing talent for the national team.
As a glimpse into the possible Indian squad for T20 World Cup 2024, Sreesanth’s speculative lineup is as follows: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj.
These suggestions and speculations by Sreesanth offer fans and analysts food for thought as they consider the optimal strategies and players to secure victory for India in the 2024 edition of the T20 World Cup.