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India squad announcement for T20 World Cup LIVE: The Ajit Agarkar-led senior selection committee will be unveiling India's squad for the T20 World Cup on Saturday, 20 December. In a departure from tradition in Indian cricket, the BCCI will be announcing India’s squad nearly two months in advance, with a five-match T20I series against New Zealand still a month away.
The Suryakumar Yadav-led squad isn’t expected to be too different from the side that had won the Asia Cup in September by winning all seven matches that it had played, including all three meetings against arch-rivals Pakistan.
Which means that Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill is set to continue as Surya’s deputy in the shortest format, and Jasprit Bumrah will continue leading the attack in addition to being a senior member of the leadership group.
There are several other spots that are also locked in at the moment – from Abhishek Sharma at the top of the order to to Hardik Pandya in the middle-order as well as in the role of a finisher. Tilak Varma is also an automatic choice and ideally, he will be walking in to bat at the No 3 spot.
Spotlight on Rinku vs Dube ahead of squad announcement
However, uncertainty over Abhishek’s opening partner, especially with Sanju Samson making a strong case for his selection during the fifth T20I against South Africa, means that Tilak might be asked to bat at No 4 or lower at the upcoming mega event with captain Surya possibly slotting in at No 5.
In such a scenario, it might get difficult for the team management to also include Jitesh Sharma as a back-up wicketkeeper and finisher in the XI in order to maintain the ideal balance in the XI.
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There are similar debates over middle-order batter Rinku Singh and his inclusion in the squad, with the Kolkata Knight Riders star clashing with all-rounder Shivam Dube for a spot in the middle order. Pandya and spin-bowling all-rounder Axar Patel are automatic inclusions in the team with the latter being a floater – someone who can walk in at a higher spot depending on the match situation – and one of Rinku or Dube will get the nod.
As for the bowling department, Varun Chakravarthy is also an automatic inclusion while Arshdeep Singh is likely to open the bowling alongside Bumrah, with Harshit Rana likely to get picked as his back-up. Kuldeep Yadav had been the top wicket-taker in the Asia Cup, and is also likely to remain a key member of the side in the tournament that is taking place at home for only the second time.
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