India squad for T20 World Cup Highlights: Hardik Pandya's bowling form a big worry ahead of team announcement

As things stand, for Hardik Pandya, there is no alternative for selectors as Shivam Dube, who is also expected to board the New York bound flight, isn't bowling either. The presence of Impact Rule has reduced Dube's role as an all-rounder, with CSK reaping the benefits of his batting prowess. Also in terms of skill and pace, Dube the bowler isn't anywhere close to Pandya but his current batting form (26 sixes in nine games) can't be ignored either.

The Mumbai Indians captain has scored 197 runs in nine matches at a strike rate of 151.54 with no half-century scores and picked four wickets at an economy rate of almost 12.

Speaking to Star Sports, the former India all-rounder said that the Indian team management needs to stop giving Hardik "that much priority as they have given him so far, because we still haven’t won the World Cup." He reckoned that Hardik is yet to make that impact in international cricket despite having the potential. He added: "We are getting confused between the IPL performances and the international performances. That’s a big difference."

There was much anticipation over the return of Hardik into competitive action after he was out with an ankle injury during the ODI World Cup last October. However, his bowling fitness has emerged as a major concern for selectors after he bowled only 17 overs so far in the tournament of the possible 36, where he picked up just 4 wickets at an economy rate of 12.

India squad for T20 World Cup Live updates: We will be back with the latest updates regarding India's squad announcement for the mega T20 World Cup. Join us tomorrow morning for the updates.

India squad for T20 World Cup Live updates: Former Australian T20 World Cup-winning captain Aaron Finch also unveiled his lineup for the highly anticipated tournament in June. Shubman Gill failed to make the cut in Aaron Finch's squad as he went ahead of Yashasvi Jaiswal as Rohit Sharma's opening partner. Read Full Story Here

India squad for T20 World Cup Live updates: Rishabh Pant has redeemed himself on his return to competitive cricket after the horrific car accident which ruled him out for almost 14 months. DC skipper Pant has displayed a stupendous performance in IPL 2024. He scored 371 runs in 10 matches at an average of 46.38 and at a strike rate of 160.60. The left-hand batteries are at the fourth number in the list of orange cap for the ongoing 17th edition of the cash-rich league.

India squad for T20 World Cup Live updates: Virat Kohli has reacted to the criticism regarding his strike rate in the ongoing season of Indian Premier League after scoring a sublime half-century against Gujarat Titans at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. Kohli, who is holding the Orange Cap, breached the 500-run mark this season with his 70-run knock on Sunday evening. 

"Not really, I think all the people who talk about strike rates and me not playing spin well are the ones who loves talking about these stuff [numbers]. But for me, it's just about winning games for the team and there's a reason why you do it for 15 years because you have done it day in and day out," Kohli told broadcasters after the match.

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India squad for T20 World Cup Live updates: Former Australia all-rounder Tom Moody has come in support of Mohammed Siraj as he backed the pacemen to get picked in the T20 World Cup squad despite having an underwhelming IPL season. “He plays his cricket in the IPL at probably the hardest venue (Benglauru) whether you bowl quick or you bowl spin — that needs to be taken into consideration. The third thing is he's playing in a poor side. RCB have been a poor side this year and it's very hard to rise with what's happening around you. I would back him 100 per cent to step up in the World Cup," Moody said.

India squad for T20 World Cup Live updates: Legendary South Africa captain Graeme Smith pointed out the key difference in Sanju Samson and KL Rahul's knocks on Saturday night during the Lucknow Super Giants and Rajasthan Royals clash.  “They (Rahul and Samson) needed to build a partnership. Rahul did it with (Deepak) Hooda and Sanju did it beautifully with Dhruv Jurel. The difference was that Sanju finished the game, while KL got out at a key phase. But it was brilliant to see both excellent players put their hands up for World Cup selection,” said Smith in JioCinema.

India squad for T20 World Cup Live updates: Shubman Gill failed with the bat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Sunday as he scored just 16 in the mega clash. It was probably the last chance for him to raise his hands for a place in the T20 World Cup squad. The talented opener has failed to hit a big score in the ongoing IPL. 

India squad for T20 World Cup Live updates: Wasim Jaffer has picked Yashasvi Jaiswal as the opening partner for Rohit in his squad, while Virat Kohli, who has been in incredible form as an opener in IPL 2024 also got picked in his 15-member team as Shubman Gill failed to make the cut. Read Full Story

India squad for T20 World Cup Live updates: Former India batter K Srikkanth, meanwhile, is not in favour of Siraj being selected for the World Cup. 

"Bumrah is in the squad. Arshdeep as well. But the third pacer can't be Siraj. He'll bowl well in one game and then not perform in 10 games. He's an erratic bowler, you saw it in the World Cup,” he said.

The 1983 WC-winning star picked Avesh Khan over Siraj on his side.

 “That's why I'm saying we should look at who's bowling well in the death overs, and that is Avesh Khan. He's been performing well and he's done well on the international front, he has a little experience as well. He's mastered the wide yorkers also,” Srikkanth added.

India squad for T20 World Cup Live updates: Samson has been in top form in the IPL since 2021 and this is where he scores over the likes of KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant who have had mixed fortunes in the last few seasons. Rahul has a higher average benefitting from his position as opener but in terms of strike rate - the most crucial parameter - Samson has outdone both his competitors in this time-frame.

India squad for T20 World Cup Live updates: KL Rahul bats as opener in the IPL and has also never batted for India at number 5 (or below) in T20I cricket. The flamboyant wicketkeeper batter has also scored 378 runs in 9 matches this season hus far, including three half-centuries.

India squad for T20 World Cup Live updates: Sanju Samson produced yet another brilliant match-winning performance with his undefeated 71 off just 33 deliveries taking the Royals to a thumping seven-wicket win against the Super Giants in Lucknow on Saturday. Samson is the second-highest run-scorer of the season with 385 runs at a strike rate of 161 including four fifties - his flamboyant stroke-play matched with consistent run-scoring in the tournament.

India squad for T20 World Cup Live updates: The biggest topic of discussion in the T20 WC squad announcement meeting will be around the selection of wicketkeepers. Rishabh Pant has made a sensational return to competitive cricket in IPL this year and is expected to be the first choice wicketkeeper in the USA and West Indies. While the race for second spot is between Sanju Samson and KL Rahul who have been in good form in the ongoing IPL. However, Dinesh Karthik is also an wild card option considering his destructive form with RCB. 

India squad for T20 World Cup Live updates: The ongoing IPL match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans is going to be crucial for Shubman Gill to make a strong case for himself before the squad announcement. Shubman has been touted as India's next superstar but he is slightly lagging in T20 WC race with a heavy traffic jam at the top of order.

With the Agarkar-led selection committee set to announce India's T20 World Cup squad, fans and experts have been left under plenty of suspense. There will be plenty of hits and misses, with Rohit eyeing glory. The India captain, alongwith Kohli, Bumrah, Suryakumar are expected to be the first names in the list. Meanwhile, Riyan Parag's resurgence won't be ignored. In the pace quartet, Bumrah is expected to be supported by Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar and Arsheep Singh. Mohammed Siraj has been in bad form this season, and could miss out. Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja and Shivam Dube are the all-rounders likely to be included. On the other hand, Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul could be included as wicketkeeper-batters. The spin duo could be Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, with Yuzvendra Chahal missing out.

Here's HT's likely Team India squad for T20 World Cup: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel

While the two-time World Cup-winner outlined the importance of having the two white-ball mavericks - Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma - in the T20 World Cup side, he advised them to give up on the format at the end of the ICC event in July. "As you get older people start talking about your age and they forget about your form. These guys have been great players for India and they deserve to go (retire) when they want," Yuvraj stated as quoted by the ICC.

Amid the discussion over Virat Kohli's batting position in the Indian playing XI for the World Cup, which has so far pertained to either as opener or at No. 3, former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh has come up with a fresh idea of wanting to play the ex-captain at No. 4. He explained that he would rather have Shivam Dube at No. 3 than Kohli. 

He said: "If six-seven overs are played, and if we have a player like Shivam Dube, he can walk in at no.3. Kohli can then walk in at 4. Kohli is a great player, whether he plays at no.3 or 4, the team comes first. Even if you ask him this question, he will say the team comes first."

During a recent interaction with PTI, former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly backed Virat Kohli to open alongside Rohit Sharma in the World Cup, as he reckoned that the former captain has the "capability of scoring a 40-ball 100." He feels that India should go into the ICC tournament with an aggressive mindset. "The mindset should be to hit, and then we'll see what happens after 5-6 overs," he said.

“Yashasvi Jaiswal was a strong contender in my team, but as of now, it’s going to be Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma who will open the innings for me in the T20 World Cup. Because I will have to look at the balance, who’s going to come at No.3, who’s going to bat at No.4, what is the impact you want to create, you need to take all those things into account. Sometimes, you have to take hard calls as the chairman of the selection committee. It will be difficult as Yashasvi is a very good player, his track record is good, but for me, it will be Rohit and Kohli opening." - Srikkanth on Star Sports

"By popular consensus of the panel, I've got Virat there. I've got to have him in the powerplay. If I'm going to pick him, he has to play in the powerplay. He has to play the majority of those six overs as an opener, because Yashasvi does deserve to be there in my opinion, and it will be a left and right hand combination which will be a huge bonus, and that's why I say it's such a pivotal selection, this. Who would have even thought that we would be having this conversation about the greatest player in India, maybe ever. So it all comes down to are we interested in selecting a side that we believe is the right balance and is going to win this world cup." - Hayden on Star Sports

“See, as far as I'm concerned, Indian openers should be Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma, purely because of the right-hand and left-hand combination. Don't forget Yashasvi Jaiswal's international strike rate is 160 and you need that, you need that firepower. If Virat opens up the batting, what happens is that it will allow the combination of 11 to be in a certain way, which you want. If that happens, you might see Shivam Dubey playing, if he's there in the squad. You might see guys like Rinku Singh in the playing 11 as well. But if Virat bats at number three, that might not happen. So that's a big challenge. The other thing, if Yashasvi Jaiswal is playing, what can happen as he's actually been bowling regularly in the nets. So what you can do is you can actually play proper five bowlers and maybe have him as a sixth bowler, as an option to keep it. Otherwise, if you look at the batting order, no one bowls. No one bowls in top six and that's the biggest challenge what we have as Indian cricket. And that's what we need to consider that as well. So for me, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma and then Virat bats at number three.” - Pathan on Star Sports.

The reason is simple. Besides his rather impressive numbers in the powerplay, which includes a scoring rate of 8.74 against the new ball and getting a boundary every 4.22 balls; and his struggles in the middle overs, as witnessed in that knock of 51 against SRH, Kohli's role as opener will subsequently offer India the opportunity to include one between Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh or even both the power-hitters. 

Rohit Sharma - Runs - 303; Matches - 8; Strike rate - 162. 90; Powerplay scoring rate - 10.5 runs per over 

Yashasvi Jaiswal - Runs - 225; Matches - 8; Strike rate - 157.34; Powerplay scoring rate - 9.12 runs per over 

Virat Kohli - Runs - 430; Matches - 9; Strike rate - 145.76; Powerplay scoring rate - 9.3 runs per over 

Shubman Gill - Runs - 304; Matches - 9; Strike rate - 146.14; Powerplay scoring rate - 7.98 runs per over 

KL Rahul - Runs - 302; Matches - 8; Strike rate - 141.12; Powerplay scoring rate - 8.94 runs per over 

Ishan Kishan - Runs - 192; Matches - 8; Strike rate - 168.42; Powerplay scoring rate - 10.14 runs per over 

Abhishek Sharma - Runs - 196; Matches - 6; Strike rate - 220.22; Powerplay scoring rate - 14.04 runs per over

According to a report in PTI, chairman of national selection committee Ajit Agarkar and captain Rohit Sharma are expected to have an informal meeting in the national capital on a possible 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup. It is understood, Agarkar specially flew into Delhi for Saturday's IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals as he would also get a chance to chat up with Rohit and get a clarity before he sits with his colleagues to pick the final team.

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of Team India's 15-member squad announcement by the BCCI. Stay tuned for more updates!