India expected to play it safe with T20 World Cup 2024 squad selection

The India team management is unlikely to think outside the box when they select the squad for the T20 World Cup, which takes place in June in the Caribbean and US.

After winning the 2007 T20 showpiece, India have since failed to make an impression at subsequent tournaments.

Adding to India's anxiety is the fact they have not won any major trophy for a decade, coming closest during the home ODI World Cup last year where they dominated the entire tournament, only to lose in the final to Australia.

Stung by that loss and the absence of any crown since the 2013 Champions Trophy, India's management are likely to play it safe when selecting the 15-member squad and travelling reserves for the World Cup that starts in a month's time.

Rohit Sharma had already been announced, in a way, as captain for the T20 World Cup by BCCI secretary Jay Shah. Virat Kohli is also expected to be a part of the top order as the team wants a stabilising force on wickets that are expected to be low and slow.

All-rounder Hardik Pandya should make the cut despite being woefully out of form with bat, ball and as leader of Mumbai Indians in the IPL. With no other seam-bowling all-rounder in the fray, mainly due to the impact player rule in the IPL, which promotes specialists over all-rounders, Pandya should find his name on the squad list.

Another player whose selection is fairly certain is returning wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, who made a miraculous recovery after a horror car accident in 2022 and has shown acceptable levels of fitness and hitting abilities for Delhi Capitals.

It has emerged that selectors are unlikely to be swayed by recent results in the IPL, which means many players who performed a long time back are set to be preferred over