INDIA'S T20 WORLD CUP SELECTION DILEMMA: BOOST TOP-ORDER WITH BOTH GILL AND JAISWAL AND OMIT EITHER SHIVAM DUBE OR RINKU SINGH?
As the deadline for the highly anticipated squad announcement for the upcoming T20 World Cup approaches, there seem to be certain matters which are testing the selectors at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Ahead of the marquee tournament of the year, the selectors would have to take some tough calls as they aim to build their 15 who will get the nod to travel to the United States of America.
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According to a report by the Press Trust of India (PTI), only one of Shubman Gill (GT) or Yashasvi Jaiswal (RR) would get picked in the 15-member squad. However, if both of them are selected, it would mean that one of the two finishers, Rinku Singh (KKR) or Shivam Dube (CSK) would be snubbed.
While Gill has been able to pile up the runs having scored 255 runs so far, it is in stark contrast to Jaiswal who has struggled to capitalise on his starts in the ongoing season. The left-hander has scored only 121 runs in the seven games played. Being a fine batter at the top of the order, along with the added variety of being left-handed, the selectors could continue backing the talented youngster.
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Similarly, Dube has been in fine touch with the bat since the opening game against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and has been consistently delivering with the bat scoring 242 runs in the season so far. Rinku has not had an outstanding impact in the tournament so far, but this is primarily due to a niggle he has picked up earlier. He has scored only 83 runs in IPL 2024 so far.
The report has suggested that Rishabh Pant is among those who would get the automatic call-up after the positive signs in the ongoing season as he has been able to hit the ground running, albeit in a poorly performing DC side.
But another tightly fought contest will be for the second wicketkeeper spot where Sanju Samson will compete against the likes of Jitesh Sharma, KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan. It would be difficult to give Rahul and Kishan a go considering that they have not played in the middle-order for their respective franchises.
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Sanju Samson on the other hand has played at the number three slot, leading the Rajasthan Royals who are currently top of the table. Samson has also had a good start with the bat having scored 276 runs in the seven games played and is the highest run-scoring wicketkeeper in the tournament so far.
The reserve spinner slot could be another tightly fought contest with RR’s Yuzuvendra Chahal leading the way followed by Axar Patel (DC) and Ravi Bishnoi (LSG). Chahal has been consistent with the ball and is currently the leading wicket-taker in the IPL with 12 wickets. However, despite his international experience and being the highest wicket-taker in IPL history, he is yet to have played a single game for the country during the T20 World Cup.
Axar on the other hand is fairly accurate with the ball and can also contribute with the bat. Bishnoi was in good form before the IPL where he stormed up into the top spot in the ICC Men’s T20 rankings for bowlers as well. However, he has not been able to recreate that form in the ongoing season of the IPL.
2024-04-17T13:53:51Z dg43tfdfdgfd