Harbhajan Singh shared his thoughts on India’s team for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. He mentioned that he feels the absence of Rinku Singh, who is a strong middle-order batter and is part of the reserves. Harbhajan believes including four spinners in the squad is too many. The tournament starts on June 1 and spans across venues in the USA and the Caribbean until June 29.
Harbhajan expressed, “The World Cup team is finalized. The batting lineup looks good. However, I reckon we’re short of one fast bowler. Rinku Singh’s absence will be felt, as he has the potential to turn the game around single-handedly. He’s capable of chasing down 60 runs in just 20 balls. As for the spinners, picking four seems excessive. Three would suffice. I wish Team India the best of luck and hope they bring home the cup.”
Regarding the possibility of fielding four spinners in a match, he stated, “I doubt we’ll ever go with four spinners. Ravindra Jadeja is a sure pick. Maybe Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal will join him. We might opt for three spinners based on the conditions.
Rinku played his first short cricket match in 2023 against Ireland. Since then, he’s played 15 matches and batted 11 times, scoring a total of 356 runs. On average, he scored about 89 runs each time he played and his hitting rate was very fast, around 176 runs per hundred balls. His last game was in January 2024 against Afghanistan.
India’s T20 World Cup Schedule and Squad
But in the IPL 2024, Rinku didn’t do well. He only scored 168 runs in 11 turns at an average of 18.66. He didn’t get many chances to bat because the top players did so well. Harbhajan Singh thinks the real challenge for India will be in the Super Eight phase in the West Indies. He believes the match against Pakistan on June 9 in New York is crucial.
Harbhajan also thinks that although Rishabh Pant did well in the IPL after his injury, Sanju Samson, who is leading the Rajasthan Royals team, should also be given a chance. Pant scored 446 runs in the IPL, while Samson scored 504 runs.
The T20 World Cup for India starts on June 5 against Ireland, followed by a big game against Pakistan on June 9, both in New York. Then they’ll play against the USA and Canada.
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