India’s T20 World Cup Squad: Major Star Left Out, Tight Decision on Wicketkeeper’s Slot – Report

An anonymous BCCI source emphasized a strong focus on rewarding consistent performers in T20 Internationals and the IPL, with no room for experimentation or unorthodox selections. The source pointed out the challenge of assessing the impact of players like Rahul and Kishan, who have excelled at the top of the order but haven’t batted in the middle order. Certain players, if fit, are guaranteed spots on the team.

Meanwhile, the resting of Siraj by RCB for workload management and the dilemma between choosing Gill and Jaiswal were highlighted. The source also emphasized the novelty of having a left-hander in the top four, and the potential difficulty in choosing between players like Shivam and Rinku. Chahal’s superior bowling skills were acknowledged, along with the uncertainty surrounding his inclusion due to repeated omissions from important squads.

The “Impact Player” rule was criticized for its impact on the concept of all-rounders, with concerns raised about players like Hardik Pandya and Dube. Moreover, young players were identified as potential candidates for their India debuts in upcoming white-ball series. Finally, the probable 20-man squad in contention was listed, consisting of specialist batters, all-rounders, spinners, and wicketkeeper-batters.