Former India left-arm fast-bowler Irfan Pathan believes pace-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah could have made for a suitable candidate as India’s vice-captain for the Men’s T20 World Cup, instead of Hardik Pandya, who was named as Rohit Sharma’s deputy for the mega event.
Tournament favourites, Sri Lanka, confirmed their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier Group A semifinal spot with a dominant 67-run victory over Uganda at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
The Senior Selection Committee of the BCCI on Tuesday named a 15-member India squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup to be played in the West Indies and the US from June 2-29.
Karthik started the last T20 World Cup in Australia as India’s designated keeper before losing his spot ahead of the team’s semifinal defeat to England.
Going by stats, Dube has struck 57 sixes since IPL 2022, to match Andre Russell and Liam Livingstone during this period. On top is Jos Buttler with 59.
Dhawan has had a decent performance in IPL 2022 and failed to make it to the team for the subsequent South Africa series and the T20Is in England next month.
Now, 16 years later, in Rajkot, Karthik notched up his first half-century in the format, blistering 27-ball 55, hitting nine fours and two sixes at a strike rate of 203.7. He was also involved in a crucial 65-run stand-off with 33 balls with Hardik Pandya to set up India's 82-run thrashing of South Africa and take the series to a cracking finale on Sunday.
Heinrich Klassen took the game away from India with a 46-ball 81 as South Africa romped home with four wickets to go 2-0 up in the five-match series at Cuttack's Barabati Stadium.
The next ten days of T20I action against a full-strength Proteas side will be an opportunity for India to test a new-look top-order without Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, and with KL Rahul out with a right groin injury, Rishabh Pant is set to make his international captaincy debut at his home ground.
Most of these players should make the cut for the ICC T20 World Cup based on current form, but with the tournament still six months away and injuries and form being a part of the game, the selectors may prefer to wait and see rather than pass judgement based on IPL performances.
