Sanju Samson has been magnificent for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League 2024. Apart from his captaincy, he has performed in the batting and wicket-keeping departments. He is competing with Rishabh Pant for the wicket-keeper’s slot for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Pant hasn’t put a foot wrong in the 17th season of the tournament.
The selectors will pick one between the two as the number one keeper. According to ESPN, the decision-makers will likely to prefer Samson over Pant because of the former’s ability to play spin well. The pitches in the West Indies and the United States of America will be slow, and all the teams could opt for at least two spinners in the Playing XI. Pant will travel as a reserve wicket-keeper.
The report further states that selectors will not give all the importance to the performances in the cash-rich league, and the contributions in international cricket will also be considered.
Hardik Pandya, struggling for Mumbai Indians in the ongoing season, is expected to make it to the team, considering his ability to bowl fast. Although he has been off-colour as a bowler, the selectors are ready to give him more time to get back into bowling form.
Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, and Suryakumar Yadav will be the top four batters in the team.
India’s likely ICC T20 World Cup 2024 squad
Top order: Rohit Sharma (capt), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav
Middle and lower-middle order: Sanju Samson (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh
Spinners: Kuldeep Yadav
Fast bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan/Mohammed Siraj
Other Options: KL Rahul, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Sandeep Sharma