T20 World Cup 2024: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma mentioned as Suresh Raina fires warning to Team India ahead of World Cup

As India gear up for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024, former batsman Suresh Raina has fired a timely warning for them. He was a part of the Indian contingent that played the T20 World Cup in the Caribbeans in 2009.

While India had a disappointing campaign in that edition of the T20 World Cup, Suresh Raina had left his mark by becoming the first Indian to score a T20I century. Having done well in those conditions, the former cricketer has some valuable advice for the Indian players who will be looking to end the team's long wait for an ICC trophy.

Raina has said that the players should get used to the "drop-in pitches" and weather conditions as soon as possible to do well in the T20 World Cup. The marquee event is scheduled to be played in the USA and the Caribbean from June 1 to 29.

"The team is balanced. Rohit Sharma is the captain. Virat Kohli is in fine form and Suryakumar Yadav is in good touch. Two left-arm pacers are going, who can bowl in powerplay. Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja are going," said Raina while speaking at an event of Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh's Chhattisgarh Premier League (CPL).

"However, matches there are at 10:00 AM in the morning. The wickets are also drop-in. The team should get used to these wickets and conditions as soon as possible," he added.

Suresh Raina defends Hardik Pandya:

Speaking further, Suresh Raina leapt in the defence of Hardik Pandya who has faced severe criticism for his performance as a captain as well as an allrounder in IPL 2024. Under his captaincy, Mumbai Indians finished at the bottom of the points table with just 4 wins from 14 games. Pandya failed to impress with the bat and ball as well.

"He has done really well (for India). Temporary poor form does not make someone bad. When he will perform well against Pakistan in the World Cup, everyone will praise him."

Meanwhile, Team India are placed in Group A alongside arch-rivals Pakistan, Ireland, Canada, and co-hosts USA. The Men in Blue will begin their campaign on June 5 against Ireland.

India squad for the 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