The team will lose middle-order hitter Rinku Singh, according to former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh, and having four spinners in the lineup is a bit excessive.
Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh shared his thoughts on the India selection for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, stating that having four spinners in the squad is a bit excessive and that the team will miss middle-order batsman Rinku Singh. The T20 World Cup will take place in locations across the USA and the Caribbean beginning on June 1 and running through June 29. Rinku is in the reserves even though he hasn't made the starting lineup.
Speaking to ANI on Monday, Harbhajan noted, "The World Cup team has been selected. The batting is good. I think we are one fast bowler short. One player that I think we will miss is Rinku Singh, because he is someone who can win the match single-handedly for us. He can chase down 60 runs in 20 balls. I think selecting four spinners is a bit too much. Three would have been enough. I wish the Team India all the best, hope they bring the cup."
Additionally, he expressed his belief that India will never field four spinners in a match.
"I do not think we will ever play four spinners in a game. Ravindra Jadeja will play. Maybe Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal will play with him. Maybe we will field three spinners in a game. We will get to know the combo on seeing the conditions," he remarked.
Since making his Twenty20 debut against Ireland in 2023, Rinku has participated in 15 games and 11 innings, amassing 356 runs at an average of 89.00 and a strike rate of 176.24. In January 2024, the left-handed hitter engaged in his final 20-over game for India against Afghanistan.
But Rinku's IPL 2024 has been a letdown, scoring just 168 runs at an average of 18.66 in 11 innings, with a maximum score of 26, maybe because of poor form or a lack of opportunities down the order as a result of the top order's strong performances.
According to Harbhajan, the true tournament for India will begin in the West Indies during the Super Eight round, where they will get to play powerful teams like Australia, New Zealand, etc. However, India's victory against Pakistan on June 9 in New York during the group stage might set the tone for the competition.
"I am sure we will win against Pakistan, we have a great track record against them and have a better team," he stated.
The former spinner added that Sanju Samson, who has been leading the Rajasthan Royals (RR), should be given an opportunity, even though India's top wicketkeeper and captain of the Delhi Capitals (DC), Rishabh Pant, did well on his comeback to competitive cricket following a car accident.
"Rishabh Pant played well in the IPL. He has come out of his injuries. He looked fit, batted well and did some nice wicketkeeping. But Sanju played well. I would like to see him get a chance. He has been performing consistently. He has been scoring 60s and 70s and is not the old Sanju anymore who would score just 30s and 40s. But there has been no hurry in bringing Pant back, he worked hard. I hope he does something special for India," he noted.
During the event, Pant performed admirably for the Capitals, collecting 446 runs in 13 innings at an average of 40.54 with a 155.40 strike rate. In addition, he received three fifties, the highest of which was 88*. He was also quite effective behind the wickets, making several incredible catches and stumping opponents.
In contrast, Samson is having the finest IPL season of his career. He has five half-centuries and 504 runs scored at an average of 56.00 with a strike rate of 156.52 in 13 innings pitched. His highest rating is 86.
India's T20 World Cup campaign will kick off on June 5 against Ireland at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. Then, on June 9, the team will play their main match against Pakistan at the same stadium. India's next matches are against the USA on June 12 and Canada on June 15, respectively.
India squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj
Reserves: Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh Khan.