As the cricketing world eagerly awaits the T20 World Cup 2024, Harsha Bhogle, the renowned cricket commentator, has stirred up a debate with his revelation of an alternate Indian squad for the tournament. His tweet came in the wake of the official announcement by the BCCI, which left out some expected names, including Rinku Singh, Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Shubman Gill among others.
India’s official squad, led by Rohit Sharma and vice-captain Hardik Pandya, boasts a formidable lineup. However, the absence of some players left fans and experts questioning the selectors’ decisions. Rinku Singh, who was highly anticipated to make the cut, found himself named only in the traveling reserves.
Taking to Twitter, Bhogle presented his alternate 15-player squad, which he believes could have been another strong contender. His squad included Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Ashwin, Avesh Khan, Sandeep Sharma, Khaleel Ahmed, and Varun Chakravarthy. To complete the 15, Bhogle added Rajat Patidar, Natarajan, Krunal Pandya, and Ishan Kishan.
Bhogle’s suggested squad reflects the depth of talent available in Indian cricket, with players who have shown promise in domestic and franchise cricket. He also hinted at the possibility of forming a third squad built around other talented individuals such as Riyan Parag, Deepak Chahar, Ravi Bishnoi, and Washington Sundar. He penned out,
How does the alternate 15 look?
Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Ashwin, Avesh Khan, Sandeep Sharma, Khaleel Ahmed and Varun Chakravarthy. To complete the 15, Rajat Patidar, Natarajan, Krunal Pandya and Ishan Kishan.
You could create a third too built around Riyan Parag, Deepak Chahar, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Sen, Jitesh Sharma, Sai Sudharsan, Rahul Tewatia, Tushar Deshpande, Nehal Wadhera, Nitish Rana……..
It’s worth noting that India’s official squad, as announced by the BCCI, comprises a balanced mix of experienced players and exciting young talent. With the likes of Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, and Jasprit Bumrah, India remains a strong contender for the title.
India’s World Cup Squad
Rohit Sharma (captain), Hardik Pandya (vice-Captain), 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, Mohammad Siraj.
Reserves: Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh Khan
So far, only four teams – New Zealand, England, South Africa, and India – have revealed their squads for the tournament. With the T20 World Cup set to begin on June 1st, co-hosted by the USA and the West Indies, the excitement among fans continues to build as they anticipate thrilling contests and remarkable performances on the cricketing stage.
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