The national selectors chose a team based on impact and adaptability as India prepares for the T20 World Cup at home.
Here we look at the players assigned to India’s campaign at the international tournament, which begins on February 7 next year.
Suryakumar Yadav: The Indian captain, who is among the best to have played in the shortest format, is in the worst form of his life going into a major tournament. SKY hasn’t scored a fifty in the last 14 months, and his strike rate has fallen below 125.
The captain of the Indian team would need to bat and fire at No. 3 in the T20 World Cup, where he established himself as “Mr. 360 degree.” He has been excellent as a captain, as seen by his winning percentage of 83. However, every captain wants to set a good example, and SKY hopes to accomplish so in the T20 World Cup.
Abhishek Sharma: One of the key elements in India gaining control of the Powerplay will be Abhishek’s starts, the man who has entirely reinvented the T20 batting pattern for the Gen Z. With a strike-rate of about 200 throughout the purple patch of his career, the top T20 batter in the world has established a new standard for openers worldwide.
Tilak Varma: After Abhishek Sharma, Tilak is the most significant top-order batsman heading into the T20 World Cup. Although the T20 format is a slam bang version, Tilak’s batting combines skill and creativity with a natural ability to remain composed under pressure. Recall the final over six off Haris Rauf in the Asia Cup final against Pakistan. Depending on the needs of the team, he can bat at number three or four, and he can be the best outfielder in the T20 lineup.
Hardik Pandya: In the last nine years, Pandya has been the epitome of balance in Indian cricket. When he hasn’t played in T20s or ODIs, India hasn’t been able to field the best lineup. Although it may be unfair to compare him to Kapil Dev given the latter’s body of work, his huge and clean hits do make one think of Haryana Hurricane. His bowling tempo enables the team to field an additional bowler or batter.
Shivam Dube: Dube is a valuable member of this Indian team on flat Indian tracks or those that are a little sticky. Because he can kill slow bowlers on subcontinental wickets, he is the man you would want between overs 9 and 16 when mostly spinners are in use. When Dube is at the crease, his captains frequently don’t call Adam Zampa, Abrar Ahmed, or Wanindu Hasaranga to bowl because of his skill with the leg-spinners. He can slide in two overs on slower surfaces, and his medium pace bowling has significantly improved.
Sanju Samson: After Shubman Gill’s exclusion, which frees up a position in the batting order, India’s designated wicketkeeper-batter may finally relax. With 436 runs from 12 innings, the Kerala star was India’s top run scorer in 2024, although he had fallen in the rankings following Gill’s comeback as opener.
Samson’s chances were restricted because the team management favored Jitesh Sharma due to his lower-order utility. Even if he is asked to play as a specialist batter, Samson will now try to do what he does best—score runs—with the gloves possibly going to Ishan Kishan.
Ishan Kishan: After more than two years, the pocket dynamite from Jharkhand has pulled off a spectacular return, winning his state’s first Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and earning a recall. Kishan, who was formerly a regular in all forms, lost his Central contract, lost favor, and was questioned about his “commitment.”
Through the domestic circuit and county cricket, he responded to the field grinding. With a century in the final, Kishan capped off his redemption arc, finished as the SMAT’s top scorer, and forced his way back into the national spotlight.
Kuldeep Yadav: In terms of spin, the cunning Chinaman continues to be India’s X-factor. With seven wickets at an impressive average of 9.29, the left-arm wrist-spinner emerged as the top wicket-taker during India’s successful Asia Cup campaign in September. As India looks to launch a three-pronged spin attack, Kuldeep’s cunning, particularly his deceitful wrong ‘uns, could be crucial on Indian surfaces.
Jasprit Bumrah: Bumrah’s performances will directly affect India’s championship defense since he is the ultimate match-winner with the ball on any surface and under all circumstances. With cutters, dippers, slower balls, bouncers, and yorkers, Bumrah’s repertoire has nearly everything a bowler could want. He can be just as deadly in four overs as he can in longer formats.
Axar Patel: Axar will need to make an impression with both the bat and the ball because he is also the team’s vice captain. The left-handed batter is a great asset because, despite his accurate left-arm spin, he has the mental and mechanical adaptability to bat wherever in the order.
Arshdeep Singh: The left-arm pacer is Bumrah’s perfect foil. Arshdeep lacks his older partner’s magic. However, he poses a serious threat to batters in both the Power Play and the final overs due to his cool head, ability to vary his offerings, and ability to change pace.
Varun Chakravarthy: It is difficult to express the mystery of his craft. The spinner may provide a range of deliveries to troubled batters without actually changing the action. He’s difficult to read off his hands and difficult to play off the field due to his natural quickness. Chakravarthy is an even more challenging bowler now that he has added a little more steel to his bottomless bag of tricks.
Harshit Rana: The Indian seamer, who is now a regular in all forms, is still under cloud due to rumors that head coach Gautam Gambhir has given him preferential support. Rana has once again been chosen over the more seasoned Mohammed Siraj to be the backup pacer behind Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh. He has had mixed results at the elite level.
In the Asia Cup, Rana participated in two games and almost let one slip against Sri Lanka in the Super Fours, giving up 55 runs before a frantic final over (11 runs and a wicket) forced the match into a Super Over, where Arshdeep saved the day. With a restricted role anticipated, Rana’s participation will once again be scrutinized.
Washington Sundar: In a team already full of all-rounders, the Tamil Nadu off-spinner, who batted at No. 3 in the first Test match against South Africa, provides another choice. He has taken 51 wickets at an average of 22.76 and scored one half-century in 24 T20I innings, but he hasn’t had many chances lately. Washington may find himself warming the bench once more after playing in just four of the last ten Twenty20 Internationals against South Africa and Australia.
Rinku Singh: Rinku Singh’s ascent from a humble upbringing in Aligarh to the Indian T20 World Cup team has been fueled by his incredible poise under duress and gutsy finishing. Rinku’s ability to clear the ropes at will and finish close chases was evident in his steady IPL performances, which catapulted him into the national spotlight.
As a designated finisher who can withstand pressure and accelerate at the end, he has gained the confidence of team management. What has distinguished him in T20 cricket are his game-winning cameos. Rinku is anticipated to contribute depth and late-innings power at the World Cup.
