Not Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli! Henry Nicholls picks two Indian players who can excel in T20 World Cup 2024

New Zealand batter Henry Nicholls recently picked the two players from India who can make a significant impact in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. Henry Nicholls stated that Rishabh Pant could be a dangerous player but expressed doubts over the wicketkeeper's availability for the tournament.

Rishabh Pant made a comeback to professional cricket during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 after suffering a horrific car accident in December 2022. Pant made an impact with the bat for the Delhi Capitals (DC), scoring 194 runs in six innings at an average of 32.33 and a strike rate of 157.72.

However, the Delhi Capitals skipper would face tough competition from the likes of Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul, and Jitesh Sharma for a spot in the World Cup squad. He needs to deliver the best performances in the upcoming matches to secure a spot in the squad for the tournament.

Rishabh Pant Is Just An Amazing Player - Henry Nicholls

In a conversation with TimesofIndia.com, Henry Nicholls stated that Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill are key players for India in the World Cup. Nicholls mentioned Gill's impressive performances over the past year, describing him as a classy batter and very destructive as well.

"I've got a few options to go through in players, but I think, I'm not sure on the status of Rishabh Pant, but he's somewhat available now. I mean, that'd be just an awesome story for him. I'm not sure if he'll be able to make the World Cup squad, but I know when he's playing, he's just an amazing player and he's so dangerous."

"So, it'd be an awesome story for him if he was at the T20 World Cup and then obviously, Shubman Gill. The way he's played, you know, in the last 12 months, I've seen it firsthand in India, got a double hundred against us in a One-Day game. So, in the T20s, he's a classy batter and very destructive as well," Henry Nicholls said.

Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal are competing for an opening spot in the World Cup squad. Virat Kohli, who is opening for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL 2024, is also another option. Virat is the leading run-getter in the tournament, with 361 runs in seven matches.

Shubman Gill has amassed 255 runs in six matches at an impressive average of 51.00 and a strike rate of 151.79. He is in sixth place among the Orange Cap contenders this year. Yashasvi Jaiswal, on the other hand, has struggled with the bat, scoring 121 runs at a disappointing average of 17.29.

The Indian team for the ICC T20 World Cup is expected to be announced in early May. Head coach Rahul Dravid, selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar, and captain Rohit Sharma face the task of selecting a balanced squad from the available options.

Also read: Yashasvi Jaiswal dropped, Hardik Pandya's spot in jeopardy in India's squad for T20 World Cup 2024 - Report