The preparation for the upcoming T20 World 2024 gears up for Team India, as they will lock horns with Afghanistan in the three-match T20 series starting on January 11. This is the last T20 series for India ahead of the mega event in June.
After this, the Indian players will play a five-match test series against England and then the IPL 2024. Hence, a lot will depend on the form of the players during the IPL 2024. India have tried and tested a number of players from top to bottom in the last few series, and some have done well in the chances.
So it will be a tight competition when the Indian government sits down to pick the squad for the T20 World Cup 2024. It will be an important tournament as India has not won an ICC tournament in the last decade or so; hence, the desperation of Team India is sky high to win the tournament.
One of the important areas will be picking the wicketkeeper for the tournament. Team India has a few options in Sanju Samson, Jitesh Sharma, KL Rahul, and Ishan Kishan. Only time will tell who will be selected for the World Cup squad.
However, Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar has a different opinion about it. He said that India should try Rishabh Pant if he is even half fit. Pant has been out of action for more than a year now, after suffering from a car accident in December 2022. Though there is news that the Delhi Capitals will use him in the coming season, he will be in action.
In a recent interview with Star Sports, Gavaskar said, “I see Rahul as a wicketkeeper as well, but I will say one thing before that: if Rishabh Pant is fit on even one leg, he should come in the team because he is a game-changer in every format.”
The 74-year-old also said that if Pant is not fit, Rahul should keep wickets, which can provide a good balance to the batting unit. Rahul has started batting in the middle order in ODIs, and that has benefited India. If he can play the same role in T20Is, that will be pretty balanced.
