With the first half of Indian Premier League 2024 done and dusted, several players have all but cemented their spots in India’s squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 courtesy of strong performances in the ongoing IPL season. While IPL performances alone will not be enough to secure spots in India’s squad considering international experience will also come into play, let’s have a look at what the Men in Blue squad could look like if player performances from the first half of IPL 2024 would be a criteria for squad selection.
Here, we have a look at India’s probable 15-member squad while also assessing a few players who have an outside chance of making the cut since every participating team will get an opportunity to change players in their initial squad till May 25, a week prior to the start of the tournament.
Rohit Sharma (C)
Already confirmed as captain of India’s T20 WC squad by BCCI secretary Jay Shah, Rohit Sharma is Mumbai Indians’ leading scorer this season with 303 runs in eight games. He’s scored almost 4000 runs for India in T20Is and will play a key role in the powerplay overs as India’s opener.
Yashasvi Jaiswal
After a slow start to IPL 2024, Yashasvi Jaiswal finally found form when he scored an unbeaten 104 against Mumbai Indians in Rajasthan Royals’ last encounter. Jaiswal has managed 225 runs in eight games for the Royals this season and boasts four fifties as well as a ton with a strike rate of 161.93 in T20Is.
Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill hasn’t set the T20I stage ablaze despite scoring a hundred and fifty for India. His form as Gujarat Titans’ skipper in IPL 2024 though puts him in the reckoning. He has made 298 runs in eight games at an average of 42.57 and a strike rate of 146.97 in IPL 2024.
Virat Kohli
The leading run-scorer in IPL 2024 with 379 runs at an average of 63.16 and a strike rate of 150.39, Virat Kohli is a certainty for India’s squad. He’s made the most runs (4037) in T20Is with an average of over 50, making his inclusion in the squad a no-brainer.
Sanju Samson (WK)
The most impressive wicketkeeper batter in IPL 2024, Rajasthan Royals’ skipper Sanju Samson has made 314 runs in eight games at an average of 62.80 and a strike rate of 152.42 in the ongoing season. He hasn’t shown his best for India in T20Is but is capable of wreaking havoc with the bat if given a chance.
Suryakumar Yadav
Having been sidelined for the first few games of IPL 2024 for Mumbai Indians, Suryakumar Yadav has still managed to impress courtesy of 140 runs in five games at a strike rate of 166.66. The world’s No.1 T20I batter, Suryakumar Yadav has made more than 2000 T20I runs, including four centuries and 17 fifties at an average of 45.55 and strike rate of 171.55.
Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya hasn’t enjoyed his return to Mumbai Indians as skipper in IPL 2024 having struggled with both bat and ball. He’s managed 151 runs as well as four wickets in IPL 2024 but is likely to sneak into the squad considering his abundance of experience in T20Is, where he’s scored 1348 runs and taken 73 scalps.
Rishabh Pant (WK)
Having been away from the game for more than a year due to a serious car crash, wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant has made a strong comeback in IPL 2024. He’s scored 254 runs in eight games and has gone at a strike rate of 150.29, making him a worthy contender for India’s squad.
Rinku Singh
A belligerent finisher who doesn’t take much time to get his eye in, Rinku Singh hasn’t spent much time batting in IPL 2024 but still boasts a strike rate of 159.70 in the ongoing season. He’s got two fifties under his belt and has a strike rate of 176.23 and an average of 89 in T20Is, making him a worthwhile member of India’s squad.
Ravindra Jadeja
All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja hasn’t had the best of IPL seasons so far but comes with plenty of T20I experience. He’s scored almost 500 runs and has 53 wickets in the format and could sneak into India’s squad with better performances in the remaining IPL games.
Kuldeep Yadav
An in-form player, Kuldeep Yadav has taken 10 wickets and is Delhi Capitals’ leading wicket-taker in IPL 2024. His left-arm wrist spin adds variety to India’s bowling unit and Kuldeep has also proven himself on the international stage having taken 59 wickets in 35 T20Is.
Yuzvendra Chahal
The first bowler to take 200 wickets in the IPL, Yuzvendra Chahal is Rajasthan Royals’ top wicket-taker with 13 scalps and is one of the frontrunners to make India’s squad as a spinner. He has also taken 96 wickets in T20Is, which definitely strengthens his case for selection.
Jasprit Bumrah
A nailed-on certainty, Jasprit Bumrah’s selection is a no-brainer given his bowling pedigree in the format. Top of the Purple Cap leaderboard with 13 wickets to his name, Jasprit Bumrah has 74 wickets at an average of 19.66 and an economy of 6.55.
Arshdeep Singh
Unafraid of taking the ball in pressure situations, Arshdeep Singh has taken 10 wickets for Punjab Kings in IPL 2024 and is likely to be a part of the squad having regularly represented India in the format in the past. He’s taken 62 T20I wickets already and is likely to add to his tally in the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Shivam Dube
One of the stars of IPL 2024, Shivam Dube has been in fine form for Chennai Super Kings having scored 311 runs in eight matches at an average of 51.83 and a strike rate of 169.94. An explosive finisher, Dube should be one of the first names in the squad if IPL 2024 form was the sole criteria for selection.
The OTHER Probables, who have done well
Avesh Khan
Avesh Khan has been decent for Rajasthan Royals having bowled in crunch situations in IPL 2024 while taking eight wickets. He’s taken 19 T20I scalps and has an outside chance of making the squad with a big upturn in form.
Harshal Patel
Punjab Kings’ Harshal Patel has been among the wickets in IPL 2024 and is the team’s leading wicket-getter with 13 scalps. He’s taken 29 T20I wickets for India in the past but will be lucky to make the cut considering his economy rates tend to be on the expensive side.
Riyan Parag
Rajasthan Royals’ Riyan Parag is having an excellent IPL season and he’s the team’s leading run-scorer having scored 318 runs this season. Even though it has been a coming-of-age season for Parag in the IPL, his selection in the squad might be a step too far since he’s yet to make his T20I debut.
Ruturaj Gaikwad
Chennai Super Kings’ new skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad has found form at the right time to boost his chances of selection. After a slow start to the season, Gaikwad has looked in great form and is his team’s top-scorer with 349 runs in eight IPL 2024 games. The fact that he’s made one hundred and three fifties in T20Is also won’t do his chances any harm.
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