Which of India’s top 30 players for the T20 World Cup squad would make the ideal starting eleven?

The leading candidates for the Indian team seem to have improved as the IPL 2024 deadline for revealing the provisional roster for the T20 World Cup draws closer. While Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been in incredible form since the beginning of this season, several other competitors are fighting late to guarantee a berth in the last 15.

When the selection committee meets sometime next week, it will be difficult for captain Rohit Sharma, head coach Rahul Dravid, and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar. The team is anticipated to be revealed on May 1st or the following day. In the meantime, the aspirants will make their strongest case for selection; while we may assume that most members of the squad choose their own teammates, there are a good number of contenders for each of the initial 11 positions.

Let’s attempt to ascertain which competitors are in the lead and which seem to be losing ground. Here is our assessment of the best Indian team the selectors may choose before then.

Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, and Abhishek Sharma are the openers.
As the IPL 2024’s top run scorer, Virat Kohli has headed the Orange Cap List from the first week of play. Although things operate considerably differently and we are unsure of the selectors’ thoughts, Kohli has to be India’s first-choice opener based just on his record (379 runs in eight matches, striking at 150.39). Rohit Sharma ought to be the other opener since he is the team captain. Based on his behavior, he has also been okay. He is ranked tenth on the Orange Cap list with 303 runs in eight matches. But the important things for both players are their different strike rates, which are 162.90 and 150.39.

Next are the top candidates. Although Yashasvi Jaiswal’s IPL 2024 campaign started extremely poorly, his century against the Mumbai Indians has propelled him into contention, and he is considered India’s finest possibility. The crown prince, Shubman Gill, is putting up big scores; in nine matches, he has scored 304 runs at a strike average of 146.15. In the team of 15, one of these two will probably be the backup opener.

And Ruturaj Gaikwad comes next. He is now ranked second on the Orange Cap list for the 2024 Indian Premier League after scoring a century last week. He has 349 runs at a strike rate of 142.44 in eight matches. In addition to his century, he has two fifties. KL Rahul has also been performing well for the Lucknow Super Giants at the top of the order, with 302 runs at a strike average of 141.12 in seven games. Abhishek Sharma has made an impression in the powerplay overs with a fantastic strike rate of 215.96, and he need to be discussed. However, it seems that Ishan Kishan has given up his position because to his erratic performance with the Mumbai Indians. With an average of 168.42, he has amassed 192 runs in eight games this season, however, he has only scored fifty or more.

No. 3: Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Virat Kohli, and Suryakumar Yadav
By default, Suryakumar Yadav ought to be India’s third choice. After a protracted injury layoff, SKY has shown that it has had little impact on his hitting. Despite having two ducks to his record, he has amassed 140 runs in five outings and two quick-fire fifties. His striking percentage is a remarkable 166.66.

Kohli, who has batted at No. 3 for most of his T20I career, is another fascinating candidate here. But as an opener, he’s attempting to make his case. However, the Indian team management may decide to revert to Kohli at No. 3, which would force SKY to go down to No. 4. Although that may not be the best situation for team India, you never know. Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson are the top candidates to fill the backup position at number three. Samson is now seventh on the Orange Cap list and has amassed 314 runs in eight matches, striking at 152.42, making a compelling case for himself to be among the last 15. Another name is Varma; he’s a left-hander who has made useful cameos for the Mumbai Indians. Varma is hitting 151.66 and has amassed 273 runs in eight games.

No. 4: Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, and Rishabh Pant
The IPL 2024 stage has been lit by Rishabh Pant, and it’s amazing that the powerful left-hander hasn’t missed a beat after missing 14 months of action due to a horrible vehicle accident. He ought to be the number four pick and the official wicketkeeper-batter. With 342 runs in nine matches at an average of 161.32, Pant has soared to the second rank in the Orange Cap List with his explosive 88 not out against Gujarat Titans the other day.

If India were to go ahead and place Kohli at number three and place either Jaiswal or Gill at the opening spot alongside Rohit, then the contenders would be SKY. Samson and Varma both have the ability to bat anywhere in the middle order. The fact that Samson can also be used as a backup wicketkeeper is an asset.

No. 5: Shivam Dube, Riyan Parag, and Hardik Pandya
Since Hardik Pandya has no better spot in the starting XI, you must slot him at No. 5 by virtue of being the vice captain. Although he hasn’t played well with the bat in the IPL 2024, he must be in the starting lineup to provide balance since he is your best fast-bowling all-round player. Some could argue that, based just on his stats, he is not worthy of a berth in the starting XI, but as was previously said, his value as a bowler will help him get a slot.

So who is the competitor for the fifth position? The first name that springs to mind is Shivam Dube. With his vicious power hitting, he has dominated this IPL. Although he should be batting at number six, the circumstances of the match might force him to bat at number five. Dube, who bats at No. 5 or below, has amassed an astounding 311 runs with a strike rate of 169.94 in eight games. Riyan Parag of the Rajasthan Royals may have a remote chance of being included in the 15. Having amassed 318 runs in eight games with a strike average of 161.42, he is enjoying a fortunate season at bat. He is a competitor for the No. 6 spot, much as Dube.

No. 6: Dinesh Karthik, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, and Riyan Parag
Dube must play the role of finisher in the starting lineup. That should be beyond any reasonable dispute. However, Rinku Singh of the Kolkata Knight Riders is one of the competitors. Although he hasn’t hit much this season, in the few at-bat chances he has had, he has struck at 159.70 to offer that late-order push. Here, Parag appears once again with a remote possibility. Dinesh Karthik, a specialist in the “World Cup Cycle,” is another intriguing option. Given how badly he is abusing the bowlers in the last overs, the veteran may be considered for a berth. After eight games, he now has the most amazing strike rate of 196.09.

No. 7 Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja
If India chooses to go with a spin-bowling all-rounder at No. 7, Ravindra Jadeja is the best option. Due to an injury, he was unable to participate in the 2022 T20 World Cup. Despite his poor performance this season, Dube’s performance has contributed to CSK’s frequent decision to bench Dube and, in some cases, even Dhoni, in favor of the southpaw. In the eight games he has played, he has only claimed four wickets as a bowler, but his economy of 7.85 – when most bowlers this season have gone over nine RPO – might be useful should India try to use the ball as a holding option in the middle overs.

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Jadeja’s opposite, Axar Patel, is the perfect fallback for the Saurashtra cricketer. So far in IPL 2024, Axar has outperformed Jadeja both with the bat and the ball.

No. 8: Yuzvendra Chahal/Kuldeep Yadav
Again, assuming that India will choose their specialist spinner for this role, Kuldeep Yadav of DC is undoubtedly the front-runner. With 12 wickets at an average of 15.25, he is now ranked fourth on the Purple Cap List, which ranks the wicket-takers of this IPL. Additionally, his economy of $7.62 is not that awful. Though he presently holds the second spot on the Purple Cap list with 13 wickets, Yuzvendra Chahal has performed well with the ball this IPL season and has a better economy (8.83) than Kuldeep. Chahal, who leads India in T20 International wicket-taking, was left off of the 2020 T20 World Cup roster and did not play in any of the 2022 T20 World Cup games. It’s time for Chahal to get his just desserts and play in the World Cup. If India could have both of their leg spinners in the starting XI, it would be fantastic.

Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Khaleel Ahmed, Muhammad Siraj, Harshit Rana, Harshal Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Sandeep Sharma, and Mayank Yadav are in positions nine and ten.
Moving on, let’s talk about the bowlers. Honestly, other from Jasprit Bumrah, bowlers have had a really difficult IPL season. Therefore, choosing the ideal supporting cast for Bumrah is the task at hand. Since Arshdeep has been a part of India’s T20I team for some time, his name would likely come up during the Indian think tank’s discussion on the Nos. 9 and 10 spots. He is a left-armer with 10 wickets at an economy of 9.40 and average of 25.70 in eight games. When it comes to left-armers, DC’s Khaleel Ahmed is a strong contender and has a little higher economy than Arshdeep (10 wickets at 30.60, going at 9.27) in 9 matches. Avesh Khan adds his name to this group as well, although like the rest, he isn’t very noteworthy. In eight games, he has eight wickets at 36.50 with an economy of 9.41.

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Harshit Rana of KKR has a chance since the team has confidence in him to bowl the difficult overs, and he has performed well in that role. With an economy of 9.25 and an average of 20.55, he has taken nine wickets in six games. The seasoned Harshal Patel, who is ranked second on the Purple Cap list with 13 wickets at 21.38 and an economy of 9.58, is another intriguing name on this list. After a brilliant back-to-back IPL season, Patel purchased a ticket to the 2022 T20 World Cup, but he turned out to be a complete disaster in the tournament. The management is unlikely to go back to the Haryana pacer.

The most seasoned international bowler for India is Mohammad Siraj, since he is currently out due to injury. Nevertheless, his IPL season could not have been worse. He has only taken five wickets at an average of 53.80 in seven games, and his economy rate of 10.34 also needs to be more accurately reported. Even so, RCB had to bench him for one of their matches. Only Bhuvneshwar Kumar and R Ashwin’s averages among bowlers who have bowled over 20 overs in the 2024 Indian Premier League are higher than his.

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As previously said, should India choose to field three spinners, they will have to give up one pacer’s position, depend on Bumrah and Pandya to bowl their allotted number of overs, and load the playing XI with the spin of Kuldeep, Chahal, and Jadeja.

Sandeep Sharma, who has taken six wickets at an average of 12.66 and an economy of 6.90 in only three games, is one of two other names who are presently making waves. However, a larger sample size is required to make him a serious contender. The other is Mayank Yadav, a youthful pace phenom who won two consecutive Player of the Match titles but was unable to play in more than one game before collapsing. Would India dare send such a delicate commodity as him to the West Indies and the United States? The simple response would be a firm no.

Jasprit Bumrah, No. 11
There’s Jasprit Bumrah, Daylight, and the other bowlers this IPL season. With an economy of 6.37, he leads all bowlers who have bowled at least 20 overs by a wide margin. With 13 wickets this season, he leads all wicket takers and has an average of 15.69 with the ball. In India’s playing XI, there isn’t a single rival for Bumrah, not even for fun.