ICC T20 World Cup 2024: India's Best Playing XI, Squad According To Former Cricketers

Ahead of the team's announcement for the the T20 World Cup in June 2024, a number of prominent former India cricketers like Zaheer Khan, Virender Sehwag and Irfan Pathan have shared their preferred squads and playing XIs. Check out who they have picked, and who has been omitted

Outlook Sports Desk

Updated on: 28 April 2024 1:17 pm

Irfan Pathan points at Virat Kohli, Irfan Pathan Twitter photo

Irfan Pathan has batted for Virat Kohli in his strongest India playing XI for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Photo: X/Irfan Pathan

A 15-member Indian squad for the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 in June is likely to be announced soon. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar and captain Rohit Sharma are reportedly expected to have an informal meeting in Delhi on Sunday (April 28), which should be followed by a formal announcement later. Virat Kohli's selection and role in the side, alongwith the choice of wicket-keepers amongst Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, KL Rahul, Jitesh Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Dinesh Karthik will be the key talking points. (Full IPL Coverage | More Cricket News)

Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson are both in great touch in IPL 2024 - X/@DelhiCapitals

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Ahead of the team's announcement, a number of prominent former India cricketers have shared their respective preferred squads and playing XIs. Among the experts are ODI World Cup 2011 winners Zaheer Khan and Virender Sehwag, and 2007 T20 World Cup winner Irfan Pathan.

Pathan has picked Kohli in not just his squad but also the playing XI, to bat at number 3 after openers Rohit and Yashasvi Jaiswal. He has opted for Pant as the playing wicket-keeper and Rajasthan Royals captain Samson in a square-off with Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill, as a squad member.

My squad for the World Cup.

1) Rohit Sharma (C)
2) Yashasvi Jaiswal
3) Virat Kohli
4) Surya Kumar Yadav
5) Rishabh pant (wk)
6)Shivam Dube
7) Hardik Pandya provided he is bowling regularly
8)Rinku singh
9)Ravindra jadeja
10) Kuldeep Yadav
11)Jasprit Bumrah
12)Arshdeep…
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) April 24, 2024

Sehwag, too has Virat in his playing XI, in addition to Pant as wicket-keeper.

Virender Sehwag's India Playing XI For T20 World Cup

Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube/Rinku Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Sandeep Sharma.

Lucknow Super Giants' captain KL Rahul and Rajasthan Royals' captain Sanju Samson at the toss ahead of their Indian Premier League 2024 match at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on April 27, 2024. - Atul Yadav/PTI

India's Team For T20 World Cup: Samson, Rahul Put Their Hands Up For Selection - Smith

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Meanwhile, Zaheer Khan has picked two unconventional choices in the form of seamer Yash Dayal and leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal.

Zaheer Khan's India Playing XI For T20 World Cup

Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill/Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Yash Dayal, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal.

With the Indian Premier League 2024 currently underway, the stocks of many of the aforementioned players have risen and fallen, and it remains to be seen how that factors into the selection committee's final decision.