Summary:
India has announced its provisional 15-member squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, featuring significant changes. Stumper-batter Ishan Kishan makes a comeback, while Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill is notably absent. The team aims to mount a strong title defence.
India’s provisional 15-member squad for the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup has been revealed, marking key personnel changes. Ishan Kishan returns to the side, while Shubman Gill, despite his captaincy roles in other formats, has not secured a spot. This decision comes as India prepares for its title defence.
Gill’s omission follows a challenging T20I run, where he went 18 innings without a half-century and recently missed a match against South Africa due to a foot injury. Sanju Samson, seizing his limited opportunities, impressed with a breezy 37 as an opening partner, providing a strong alternative.
Kishan’s recall is underpinned by his strong performances, notably leading Jharkhand to a successful Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign. He capped this by smashing a hundred in the final against Haryana, demonstrating his formidable T20 form.
India’s T20 World Cup Squad Changes
The selected squad is also slated to play a five-match home T20 series against New Zealand next month, serving as crucial preparation. Jasprit Bumrah will spearhead the pace attack, supported by left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh. Varun Chakaravarthy leads the spin department, which also includes Kuldeep Yadav. Hardik Pandya is expected to be a pivotal seam-bowling all-rounder for the tournament, scheduled from February 7 to March 8 across eight venues in India and Sri Lanka. Further details can be found on SindhNews.com.
The finalised squad reflects a blend of experience and recent form, aiming to build a cohesive unit for their T20 World Cup title aspirations.