India’s Squad for T20 World Cup 2024 – Every Major Question & Possible Answers

It is a rare sight when – be it for a fleeting moment – the cricket assemblage of India, divided by their regional loyalties over the last month, unites for the bigger cause – the national team – despite the Indian Premier League (IPL) being underway, in all its glory. 

But before they embark on that mission, let’s delve into who might and might not be on the flight to the United States of America and the West Indies.

Before getting into the complexities, let us first talk about the certainties – players, whose places are all but secured.

With five of the fifteen places occupied, let us know shift our attention to the major questions.

A similar theme can be spotted if we compare the pair’s IPL numbers since the last season. Although Gill has scored more runs than Jaiswal, and even has a better average on this occasion, the left-handed batter boasts a better strike rate. 

With India’s focus being on adapting to a more aggressive approach in powerplay overs, especially considering how the likes of Australia’s Travis Head and England’s Phil Salt are going on about at the IPL, Jaiswal could edge past Gill.

When it comes to IPL 2024 performances, Rishabh Pant has scored the most runs, 398, whilst also having a strike rate of 158.6. His recent exploits, coupled with his previous experience in the middle-order in T20Is, make him a frontrunner in this race.

On the contrary, KL Rahul’s inexperience in the middle-order, alongside his IPL 2024 strike rate of 144.3 – the lowest among the four candidates – could eliminate him from the race, despite scoring 378 runs. Among the other two – Samson and Karthik – the former might have had a better strike rate, but Samson has scored 123 runs more, and though he bats at number three for Rajasthan Royals, he has a strike rate of 161.1. These factors could see him getting the second keeping spot.

Should we compare T20I numbers since the 2022 T20 World Cup exit, Axar Patel might emerge as the clear favourite. He has not only scalped more wickets than Dube and has a much better economy rate, but has even scored more runs, although having played more matches.

However, IPL 2024 numbers hands Dube a significant boost. He has scored 350 runs for Chennai Super Kings this season, and that too, at a staggering strike rate of 172.4. Further amplifying his appeal is his ability to take the spinners to the cleaners – a trait India would want to have in their batting contingent. Having said that, however, it also should be pointed out that Dube has not rolled his arm over owing to the impact substitute rule. 

This could offer Axar the advantage, should the selectors pick only one all-rounder from the pair and opt for the one who can aid the bowling unit.

Siraj, among India’s better performers at the ODI World Cup last year, has not played much T20I cricket over the last year and a half, whilst Sharma and Natarajan are left-field choices, having entered the race only owing to their IPL performances.

Arshdeep is the only bowler among the five who has both satisfactory IPL numbers and recent T20I experience, making him a prime contender to partner Bumrah. Mukesh Kumar’s poor IPL 2024 economy rate, coupled with his underwh

This leaves the selectors with three options in Siraj, Natarajan and Sharma. From the trio, Sharma has been the outright better performer in IPL 2024, boasting an economy rate of 7.13 and an average of 13.4. Siraj, however, could get the recency advantage, considering Sharma’s last international appearance was nine years ago.

Should there be two vacancies, however, Chahal could be ahead of Bishnoi in the race.

Although the youngster has had better returns for India in recent times, and was the number one ranked T20I bowler only a few months ago, the veteran has had a much better IPL 2024 campaign.