The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 is set to take place from 2nd June to 29th June 2024. India is always one of the strongest teams going into the world cup and will continue to remain so. However, not all positions seem to be fixed this year. With Rishabh Pant just returning to action and Indian pacers looking out of form, India may have to turn to some star performers in the Indian Premier League 2024.
There have been many players who have looked in impressive form this season and it will not come as a surprise if some of these players manage to make it into India’s T20 World Cup squad. This article talks about some players who may end up being a surprise addition to the Indian squad for their T20 World Cup campaign.
The selectors have their eyes on Riyan Parag for the 2024 T20 World Cup. (Dainik Jagran). pic.twitter.com/y6Qdo8j7ea
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 17, 2024
Riyan Parag has always performed well in the Ranji Trophy, setting high expectations for himself, but he has failed to deliver in the Indian Premier League. One of the biggest reasons for this is that he was playing down the order in the Rajasthan Royals squad, which is not his most favourable position. However, this year, Rajasthan Royals decided to give him a chance at number four, and he has exceeded expectations.
While it has been only six matches, Parag has displayed some tremendous hitting in the tournament till now. Not only has his hitting prowess improved, but you can see that he has matured over the years. He knows which ball to hit and when to rotate strike to keep putting the bowler under pressure. The youngster has managed to hit 284 runs in IPL 2024 already and is second in the orange cap race, behind only Virat Kohli. Two of his best performances came against Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Titans. He made 84 in 45 balls and remained not out against Rajasthan Royals and made 76 runs in 48 balls against Gujarat Titans.
While many players are still ahead of him in the race to be selected for the T20 World Cup squad, Parag seriously has a chance of being considered for the World Cup if he keeps playing like this. He has shown that he can be important to the team whether they need him to go all out and hit or need him to stabilize the innings after a collapse. Having a player with such versatility can turn out to be crucial for India in the World Cup.
Credit: Wisden
Shivam Dube is another player whose name has been floating around for quite some time now, but he is only now showing the world exactly what he is capable of. Shivam Dube has made 242 runs in IPL 2024 in just six games. He has had a good cameo in almost each of these games, helping CSK win four of their six matches.
Some of his best performances came against Gujarat Titans, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Mumbai Indians. He made 51 in just 23 balls against Gujarat Titans and was named the Man of the Match. He made 45 in 24 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad and made 66 in 38 balls against Mumbai Indians.
Shivam Dube has shown that he can be an extremely explosive batsman regardless of his position. He has bashed the bowlers in IPL 2024 at the start, in the middle, and at the death. If India finds themselves looking for a replacement for an explosive finisher, it might just be Dube who finds himself flying with the Indian squad to the T20 World Cup.
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This shot Will be remembered for ages Dinesh Karthik the greatest Indian finisher ever to play IPL.pic.twitter.com/9ALlj8N6Pd
— Kevin (@imkevin149) April 16, 2024
Dinesh Karthik is one of the biggest shocks of IPL 2024. The Indian finisher is now 38 years old, but it looks like he may have yet another World Cup left in his career. Dinesh Karthik has been in incredible form for the Royal Challengers Bangalore this season. While his team has had an extremely poor start to the IPL 2024 campaign, he cannot be faulted for it. The Wicketkeeper Batsman has done almost everything he can in multiple matches to try and get RCB over the line. He has scored 226 runs in six innings, which is very good for someone coming in as late as him.
Two of his most notable innings came in his last two games. He scored 53 in 23 balls and remained not out against Mumbai Indians. He also scored 83 runs in 35 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad. It seems like whenever the T20 World Cup is nearing, Dinesh Karthik takes it as his cue to start performing and throws his hat in the ring. While it is yet unlikely that he will be selected, his performances will certainly make the Indian Cricket Team selectors think twice if Dinesh Karthik should be one of the two keepers heading to the T20 World Cup this year.
Credit: Hindustan Times
Sanju Samson is the third-highest run-scorer in the Indian Premier League after six games. He has managed to make 264 runs in his six innings. He scored 82 runs in 52 balls and remained not out against Lucknow Super Giants, made 69 runs in 42 balls against Royal Challengers Bangalore, and 68 runs in 38 balls and remained not out against Gujarat Titans.
Samson’s name has always been floating in and around the Indian Cricket Team, but he has never managed to string multiple performances together and get into India’s first team. However, this year, he seems to have crossed that hurdle and is performing consistently for Rajasthan Royals. The Wicket Keeper Batsman slot is probably the most open position in the Indian Cricket Team as of now. Given Rishabh Pant’s injury alongside the form of Wicketkeepers like Sanju Samson and Dinesh Karthik, no one knows for certain who will be the two keepers playing in the T20 World Cup.
If Sanju Samson keeps up the form he started IPL 2024 in and can lead his team to a strong finish this year, he can become one of the best candidates to go for the T20 World Cup. Everyone who has watched Sanju Samson bat knows just how talented he is. The only real question is if he can prove to be consistent. If he can do that in IPL 2024, he may well be on the flight to the USA for the World Cup, which will take place in June.
News Update📣📣
Reports suggest🚨 India's 156.7 Kmph Sensation Mayank Yadav is set to be included in the #T20WorldCup team✨#IPL2024 #MayankYadav #T20WorldCup2024 pic.twitter.com/Uawtj86tY6
— Doordarshan Sports (@ddsportschannel) April 10, 2024
Mayank Yadav is just 21 years old, but his name has started popping up when discussing T20 World Cup squads. The main reason for this is the form of other Indian pacers. Mohammed Shami is injured and has been ruled out of the T20 World Cup, which will be held in June. Other options like Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh have not really impressed much recently, and it will not come as a shock if India drops them.
Mayank Yadav impressed everyone with the raw pace he displayed in the TATA IPL 2024. He is consistently bowling at speeds above 150 Kmph. If this is not an impressive enough feat in itself, his two fastest deliveries reached a speed of 155.8 Kmph and 156.7 Kmph. While the youngster lacks experience and game time, he may well be considered for the T20 World Cup, given the form of India’s other pacers. If he can consistently bowl how he has been doing and other pacers don’t up their game by the end of IPL 2024, Mayank Yadav may very well be selected to represent India at the T20 World Cup.
For more news and updates on the Indian Cricket Team, keep reading GutshotMagazine.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Telegram.
Guransh Machra is a sportswriter at Gutshot Magazine. He covers football news from local leagues like the Indian Super League as well as international leagues like the Premier League. He follows various sports like Football, Cricket, Formula 1, and Tennis. Apart from sports, Guransh is also enthusiastic about reading and gaming.
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