T20 World Cup 2024: Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to leave India together, Hardik Pandya to not accompany the team

The T20 World Cup 2024 is set to be played in the Caribbean Islands and the United States of America (USA), starting on June 1. The first batch of Indian cricketers, comprising those not engaged in the IPL 2024 playoffs, will leave for the United States on May 25 to compete in the upcoming T20 World Cup.

India is placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, Ireland, Canada, and the USA. The Men in Blue will play all their league matches in the USA. Team India, led by Rohit Sharma, will kick off its World Cup campaign on June 5 against Ireland at the newly built Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.

The Rohit Sharma-led team will face arch-rivals Pakistan in New York on June 9. India will face the USA on June 12 and conclude their Group A fixtures against Canada on June 15. The Indian team will be hoping to break their 11-year ICC trophy drought, with their last victory in the Champions Trophy in 2013.

India has fallen short in several major tournaments despite their consistency over the past decade. They reached the final of the ODI World Cup in 2023 and the semifinals in 2015 and 2019. They reached the T20 World Cup final in 2014 and the semifinals in 2016 and 2022, but have not won any trophies.

Team India Will Leave For World Cup On May 25

Captain Rohit Sharma and several other key players, such as Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, and coaching staff, are expected to leave for the USA today. The remaining players, including those whose IPL teams reach the playoffs, will depart in a second batch following the final of the tournament.

India squad for T20 World Cup: Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj. Reserves: Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Avesh Khan

Rohit Sharma As A Leader Well Settled - Matthew Hayden

Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden feels India has a well-balanced squad for the T20 World Cup. He highlighted the team's left and right-handed opening combination, with Virat Kohli in form at No. 3. Hayden stated that Natarajan could have been included to strengthen the squad.

"Excellent balance for Team India. Three (four) spinners in the squad, which I think is a good strategy for the West Indian conditions, not so sure about that up in the Americas. A superb and experienced batting lineup, left and right-hand combination at the top, Kohli at three," Hayden said.

"Rohit Sharma as a leader - well settled, well organized, gone through many campaigns before. Fast bowlers in Bumrah and Siraj, I think strong selections. Would have liked to probably see a Natarajan, someone at the death that could come in and deliver like he has done in the IPL. However, overall very balanced and very good squad," Hayden added.

Natarajan has performed well in IPL 2024, securing 19 wickets across 13 innings with an economy rate of 8.83. However, Arshdeep Singh has been chosen ahead of him as the left-arm seamer in the main squad, while Khaleel Ahmed was included among the traveling reserves. 

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