Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh in, Hardik Pandya out as Venkatesh Prasad's T20 World Cup 2024 wishlist hits headlines

Former Indian cricketer Venkatesh Prasad suggested a few names whom he wants to see in the India National Cricket Team’s squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

With the International Cricket Council (ICC) setting a deadline of May 1 for participating teams to submit their preliminary 15-member squads for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) doesn’t have much time to finalize their roster.

Only one change is allowed by the ICC to the preliminary squad for the upcoming mega event by May 25, making the March and April legs of the ongoing IPL 2024 crucial for players vying for selection, especially Indian cricketers.

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Venkatesh Prasad in favor of Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh's selection for the T20 World Cup 2024

Amidst the anticipation, the wicketkeeper's position also remains up for grabs, with several contenders vying for selection for the showpiece event.

Meanwhile, Venkatesh Prasad has shared his thoughts to ease BCCI’s selection dilemma, suggesting players whom he believes should make it to the Indian squad for the highly anticipated T20 World Cup 2024.

The mega event is set to be co-hosted by the USA and the West Indies on June 1, 2024. Well, taking to X (formerly known as Twitter), Prasad suggested the inclusion of shining stars like Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, and Suryakumar Yadav in the T20 World Cup squad.

Also Read: Rishabh Pant's India comeback confirmed; wicketkeeper to play T20 World Cup 2024 - Reports

He also stressed the significance of senior and experienced players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. However, Prasad remained undecided on the wicketkeeper's role for the Men in Blue.

Interestingly, the former Indian cricketer didn’t consider Mumbai Indians' captain, Hardik Pandya, for the upcoming tournament, opting for the versatile batter Suryakumar Yadav, the explosive and in-form all-rounder Shivam Dube, and the hard-hitting finisher Rinku Singh.

Venkatesh Prasad undecided on the wicketkeeper's role

With Suryakumar, Dube, and Rinku already in contention, Prasad noted that Rohit and Kohli’s inclusion would leave room for only one wicketkeeper-batter in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad.

Venkatesh Prasad said in his X post: “Shivam Dube for his striking ability against spinners, Surya for being the best T20 international batter, and Rinku Singh for his exceptional finishing ability. It will be great if India finds a way to have these 3 in the 11 in the T20 WC. With Virat and Rohit, this will leave a spot for just a keeper batsman. Interesting to see how it pans out.”

Shivam Dube for his striking ability against spinners, Surya for being the best T20 international batter and Rinku Singh for his exceptional finishing ability. It will be great if India finds a way to have these 3 in the 11 in the T20 WC. With Virat and Rohit , this will leave…

— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) A<!---->p<!---->r<!---->i<!---->l<!----> <!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

Notably, Hardik Pandya's exclusion from Prasad’s team would certainly not surprise many, considering his lackluster performance in the ongoing IPL 2024, both as a player and Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper. He has been struggling both with the bat and the ball in the tournament.

On the other hand, BCCI is likely to name India's 15-member squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 in the last week of April. A senior BCCI source told PTI: “ The Indian team will be selected sometime during the last week of April, the time by which the first half of IPL will be over, and the national selection committee will be in a position to assess form and fitness of the contenders.”