T20 World Cup 2024: Sanju Samson snubbed from India's strongest playing XI picked by Wasim Jaffer, Mitchell McClenaghan, Tom Moody

Tom Moody, Mitchell McClenaghan, and Wasim Jaffer discussed their strongest playing XI of team India for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024 later this June. 

Three of them were discussing India's possible XI in ESPNcricinfo's Timeout show last night after the Punjab Kings defeated Chennai Super Kings in Chepauk. The reverse countdown for the T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies has begun as we are just a month away from seeing India take on Ireland in their opening fixture at New York. 

Wasim Jaffer picks Siraj over Arshdeep, Kuldeep over Chahal and Pant over Samson

The host had asked Wasim Jaffer, Mitchell McClenaghan, and Tom Moody to give him their best playing XI of the Indian team for the T20 World Cup this June. 

Drop your starting India XI for the #T20WorldCup ✍️#TimeOut pic.twitter.com/giHnuh9RtX

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) May 2, 2024

Wasim Jaffer started off by naming his best XI for team India. He picked the same batting order as expected - Rohit Sharma-Yashasvi Jaiswal as openers, Virat Kohli-Suryakumar Yadav at no. 3 & 4. In the middle order, Jaffer chose to go with Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant at no. 5 instead of Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson with CSK all-rounder Shivam Dube coming in at number 6. 

In the lower middle-order, Jaffer entrusted vice-captain Hardik Pandya to go at number 7 and chose Ravindra Jadeja over Axar Patel at number 7. 

Wasim Jaffer then snubbed Yuzvendra Chahal for chinaman Kuldeep Yadav as the only wrist spinner in the team. In the pace bowling department, the former opening batter denied Arshdeep Singh a chance to let Mohammad Siraj pair up with frontline seamer Jasprit Bumrah.   

Wasim Jaffer's India XI: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammad Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah  

Mitchell McClenaghan agrees with Jaffer but picks Arshdeep over Siraj 

Then it was Mitchell McClenaghan's turn to pick his best Indian playing XI. He kept the entire XI exactly the same but made one change in there. The former Kiwi pacer decided to go with left-armer Arshdeep Singh instead of Jaffer's pick Mohammad Siraj. He kept Arshdeep with Jasprit Bumrah to have a left-hand and right-hand bowling combination. 

Mitch McClenaghan's India XI: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah  

Tom Moody says Siraj and Arshdeep's selection depends upon the opposing batting line-up 

After McClenaghan, the spotlight fell on former Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach who helped them win IPL 2026 - Tom Moody. The Australian kept the playing XI the same as Wasim Jaffer and somehow differed with McClenaghan and Jaffer in choosing between Arshdeep and Siraj. 

Tom Moody claimed that before picking from either of those two, he would first assess the batting line-up of the opposing team. 

"I would make the final - I would be much the same. I would just make the final decision on whether I go with the left arm pacer or the right-arm Mohammad Siraj, depending on how the opposition line-up, batting-wise, whether I need or I feel the benefit of a left-armer against their line-up against a right-armer," Tom Moody said. 

Tom Moody's India XI: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh/Mohd. Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah