Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has unveiled his 15-member squad for India’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign, sparking both surprise and debate among fans and experts.
Manjrekar’s squad features some unexpected inclusions and omissions. Notably, he has left out talismanic batter Virat Kohli, who has been a mainstay in India’s T20I setup for over a decade. Instead, he has opted for Lucknow Super Giants all-rounder Krunal Pandya.
At the top of the batting order, Manjrekar has gone with Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav complete the top four, while Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Samson provide wicket-keeping options.
In the all-rounder department, Manjrekar has selected Ravindra Jadeja and Krunal Pandya, leaving out pace-bowling all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube.
For the spin attack, Manjrekar has picked Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, while Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj are his marquee pacers. Avesh Khan and Mayank Yadav have also earned spots in the squad.
Manjrekar’s decision to snub Kohli has raised eyebrows, given the batter’s exceptional record in T20 cricket. However, Manjrekar has defended his choice, stating that he believes the team needs a more balanced approach.
“I think we need to move away from the idea of having a fixed top three or four batters,” Manjrekar said. “We need to have players who can bat anywhere in the order and contribute with both bat and ball.”
Manjrekar’s squad has sparked a lively debate on social media, with fans and experts weighing in on his selections. It remains to be seen whether his predictions will come to fruition, but his bold choices have certainly added to the anticipation surrounding the T20 World Cup 2024.
