India T20 World Cup squad announcement highlights: Rinku dropped; Pant, Pandya return; Samson, Dube included

India T20 World Cup squad Live Updates: Well on the day that he has been confirmed as India's vice-captain in the T20 World Cup, Hardik Pandya has arguably put in his best spell this season. He was out for a golden duck but then recorded figures of 2/26 as he almost led MI to successfully defending a target of 145.

India T20 World Cup squad Live Updates: Rajasthan Royals will be without Jos Buttler if they make it to the playoffs, which they most probably will unless they suffer a ridiculous collapse. That is because the England captain, alongwith the rest of the players who have been chosen for the team's T20 World Cup defence, will be pulled out to play their T20I series against Pakistan, which they are seeing as preparation for the tournament. 

India T20 World Cup squad Live Updates: It was all business from KL Rahul as he spoke at the toss ahead of LSG's ongoing match against MI. "In terms of your mindset today and that of the team in the crucial game, describe it for me," former West Indies cricketer Ian Bishop asked Rahul at the toss. “It remains the same, more or less. We'll try to stay as balanced as possible. Need to come out and put up show. We have had a few good victories. Few changes, Quinton misses out. Kulkarni is in the team. Mayank is back as well. He has bowled really well, he has a huge impact. I have been pushing the physios and medical team. Mayank is eager to go. Important that he gets it out of his head that he had an injury,” Rahul said.

India T20 World Cup squad Live Updates: Rinku Singh's game time has been reduced to almost nothing this year in the IPL by KKR due to the fact that he had been brought in to bat almost exclusively in the last five overs of an innings. This is despite the likes of Shreyas Iyer and Venkatesh Iyer not having the best of years and not being in contention for the squad either. According to PTI, a BCCI source has revealed that Dube pipped Rinku because of the game time that the former was given by CSK. Moreover, Rinku has often been subbed out through the Impact Player rule by KKR despite being an extraordinary fielder.

India T20 World Cup squad Live Updates: Leading Rajasthan Royals' title charge in the ongoing edition of the cash-rich league, franchise skipper Sanju Samson and senior spinner Yuzvendra Chahal made it to India's squad for the T20 World Cup. Getting the nod ahead of gloveman KL Rahul, RR skipper Samson is among the two wicketkeepers named in the World Cup squad. Under Samson's leadership, RR has become the frontrunner to enter the playoff stage of the IPL 2024. Samson has smashed 385 runs in nine games this season. Chahal became the first bowler to complete 200 wickets in the history of the IPL this season. The RR spinner has picked up 13 wickets in nine games of the IPL 2024. Read more here.

Shubman Gill had a starry 2023, winning the Orange Cap and peeling off centuries for fun, making him an automatic pick for India's 2023 World Cup campaign. But while Gill was enjoying a purple patch, another youngster in Yashasvi Jaiswal was slowly climbing through the ranks. After the World Cup, Gill's white-form form dropped, but Jaiswal's picked. On current form, Jaiswal continued scoring runs for India and in the IPL to push Gill behind in the pecking order. How did it happen? Read here.

Is this the best 15 BCCI could have picked? Have players been included more on the basis of reputation and less on current form? Are Rinku Singh and Shubman Gill hard done by? Does Yuzvendra Chahal really warrant a comeback. Check out all this and more in our HT Special: "The best 15? Pedigree and reputation bear testimony, though form might suggest otherwise"

When only 15 are to be picked from a poll of at least 25, heartbreaks are imminent. But in some of the key takeaways, the one decision that cannot be made sense of is Rinku Singh's omission. The KKR star, who has done so well in the chances that he's received for India, was left out, while Shivam Dube got a look in. Similarly, sealing the WK debate once and for all, Sanju Samson has shut the door on KL Rahul. Well, at least for now.

Although this isn't Shivam Dube's first reaction after getting selected in India's T20 World Cup squad, it pretty much sums up what the call-up means to him. Dube, in an interview by the BCCI conducted before the squad announcement, revealed that he could not sleep thinking about whether or not he'll bag a place in India's squad of 15 and also recalled Rohit Sharma's words to him earlier this year.

As we mentioned earlier, the press-conference is indeed taking place on Thursday, May 2 but instead of a squad reveal, captain Rohit Sharma and the BCCI chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar will take some of the burning questions from the media and answer them. And trust us, plenty is going to be thrown at them, starting with Rinku Singh's omission. The guy didn't put a foot wrong but batting lower for KKR could have hurt him. Shivam Dube, meanwhile, got game time and cashed in.

"If I am Sitting pretty at 6th in the ICC T20i rankings, but not in the World Cup lineup, it’s a tough pill to swallow," Irfan Pathan posted on X, referring to Ravi Bishnoi. I mean, at the end of the day, only 15 can fit in, right? And with four spinners already in the mix in the form of Kuldeep, Chahal, Axar and Jadeja, was there really room for a fifth? We doubt. Sure enough, Bishnoi is a promising talent and made waves in a short span of time, but could he have toppled any of the names mentioned above? We wouldn't count on it.

Say what you want about Hardik Pandya and Rohit Sharma and their equation at the Mumbai Indians, but when it comes to national duty, the hierarchy is pretty much clear. Rohit is still your man for captain, and Hardik his deputy. Don't forget how Hardik took command of the Indian T20I team while Rohit was away from the format for over a year focussing in ODIs paying attention to the 50-over World Cup. The vice-captaincy in the Indian team has switched way too many times, but to be fair, once Hardik was in, it was pretty much given that he is the second in command. Hardik's inclusion also confirmed that he is fit and raring to go when it comes to being the team's sixth bowling option.

Want to get a lowdown of the entire squad announced by the BCCI? Look no further. Here's Crickit's comprehensive squad copy including the headlin-makers, the comeback men, the surprise picks and the unfortunate omissions. The last one honestly, we can't really think of any, barring the opinion that Rinku probably deserved a place in the core 15.

It seems as if India's pace combination is now crystal clear. Despite his poor run in the IPL, Mohammed Siraj will be Jasprit Bumrah's new-ball partner, assisted by the left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh, who has a pretty decent T20 record himself with 62 wickets from 44 matches. And honestly, with no Mohammed Shami, Siraj and Arshdeep were India's best bets. Arshdeep has the experience of playing a T20 World Cup and was also part of India's gold medal winning campaign at the Asian Games. So hey, why not? And that Khaleel and Avesh are part of the reserves will help too.

India T20 World Cup squad Live Updates: With Sanju Samson finalised as the second wicketkeeper batter along with Rishabh Pant, there is no room for KL Rahul. And expectedly so. Rahul has battled his fair share of injuries and with Pant being groomed as India's future all-format keeper, Rahul really didn't have much of a chance. A couple of good IPL performances were never going to be enough to book him a ticket to the USA and West Indies.

India T20 World Cup squad Live Updates: There we have it! The final 15 are officially out. Hardik Pandya is the vice-captain and will serve as the deputy to Rohit Sharma. As expected, Virat Kohli finds a place in the squad while Sanju Samson and Rishabh Pant have both been included as wicketkeepers. Also returning to the T20I setup is Yuzvendra Chahal, who will partner with Kuldeep Yadav in India's spin department. Shivam Dube has been rewarded for his brilliant show in the IPL and earned a maiden World Cup call up. The only surprise here is Rinku Singh, who is part of the four reserve players that will be travelling with the squad.

Rohit Sharma (Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (Wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya (Vice-captain), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj Reserves: Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Avesh Khan

Reserves: Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Avesh Khan

News just coming in! The selection meet is over and the announcement could come anytime now. Jay Shah has left the hotel. Hold on to those seatbelts, folks. The countdown has begun. The big reveal could be just moments away. Ecstasy for some, disappointment for others.

As if things weren't tedious enough for Yuzvendra Chahal that the leg-spinner now has competition from one of his teammates. This Indian team management is more inclined towards utility players rather than specialists, which is why as per a report from ANI, Chahal's spot is now in jeopardy because of Axar Patel. That Axar can also bat gives him the edge over Chahal, despite the leggie picking 13 wickets. Axar has performed decently in the IPL scoring 149 runs and taking 9 wickets and perhaps the management feels it's better to have a bowler who can score runs in the lower order than someone who can't.

Irrespective of when the announcement is made, one thing is certain. By the end of the day, India's squad for the T20 World Cup would be finalised. Now whether the announcement is made today itself – chances of which are highly likely – or is kept for another day, remains to be seen. Although there's been no official confirmation, we're hearing that the BCCI has a press conference scheduled in Mumbai either tomorrow or day after. Tomorrow makes more sense as it is also the last date to submit the squads. Then again, if Rohit Sharma and Ajit Agarkar are to address it, it will require them to travel to Mumbai in a really short notice. Rohit is in Lucknow for the IPL and Agarkar is in Ahmedabad. So yeah, it's possible but it'll be like cutting down too thin.

Having said that, all this is only applicable if the announcement is not made today.

Barring the 15 players narrowed down by the BCCI, the board is also expected to name five players they plan on taking as reserve for the T20 World Cup. Let us reiterate that those picked as reserves, their cost is going to be taken care of by the BCCI and not the ICC. However, what this does is give the board and the team management a deeper pool of players to pick from. Sure, these only come into consideration if a player gets injured or has to withdraw for some reasons, but even in the case of such unforeseen circumstances, a few additional players may come in handy. Also, this sends out signals that someone like a Mayank Yadav could be included as part of the travelling bunch.

There have been several squad announcements in the past, but none quite like this one. Let's not forget that there's an IPL season going on, but still, all the focus is on this Indian squad announcement. And to be fair, understandably so. It wasn't too long ago that India suffered the mother of all heartbreaks, coming this close to winning the World Cup only to lose it to Australia in the final. For many, the wounds haven't healed, and they're hoping that in just seven months, redemption is India's. The next T20 World Cup is in 2026 and the ODI World Cup in 2027. We don't know how long Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are going to go in. Hence, at 37 and 35, this is possibly their final shot at a tasting a second World Cup glory.

England become the third team after New Zealand and South Africa to reveal their squad for 15 players for the T20 World Cup. And what an announcement it is. Jofra Archer, the menacing England pacer has been included in England's title defence as the Three Lions look to secure a third World Cup trophy. Archer has been in and out of the team due to an elbow injury but seems to be way on his way to a full recovery. The last form of top-level competitive cricket Archer played was during the IPL last year for Mumbai Indians before he returned home to get work done on his elbow and subsequently released by the franchise. With Archer in, what chances would you give England? Fire away your replies.

Yuzvendra Chahal's is one interesting case. Once an indispensable part of India's Playing XI, Chahal was on a roll, but the last few years haven't been kind on him. Chahal was snubbed from India's squad for the 2021 T20 World Cup, and although he drafted in for the following year's World Cup in Australia, all he did was warm the bench and carry drinks. Chahal also missed India's 2023 World Cup berth which raised question about his future. He last played for India in an ODI against West Indies in 2023 August and eager to have another shot at World Cup, the leg-spinner is putting up quite the show. With 13 wickets, he is the joint-highest wicket-taker, along with Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel, and if all goes well, the board may spring a surprise by reuniting the pair of 'Kul-Cha' in the Caribbean.

So this happened not too long ago! The decision-makers, Jay Shah and Ajit Agarkar, along with other members of the BCCI selection committee seen entering the premises of the ITC Narmada Hotel in Ahmedabad, where the much-awaited India squad for 15 for the T20 World Cup will be picked and finalised. And now that the BCCI secretary himself is here in attendance, the wait could end pretty soon.