T20 World Cup 2024: Team India Most Unlucky Players Playing 11

Mohammed Shami, the most unfortunate as we look at the unlucky playing 11 for Team India that will miss the T20 World Cup 2024. 

15 is the magic number when it comes to selecting a squad for any ICC tournament. Be it the T20 World Cup, ODI World Cup, or Champions Trophy, ICC guidelines to select a 15-player squad. With the T20 World Cup 2024 just a few weeks away, almost all teams have finalized their 15-member players list with an option to modify their final squad before the May, end deadline.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also only a couple of weeks back announced the squad for Team India for the T20 World Cup 2024. Rohit Sharma shall lead the squad for Team India with Hardik Pandya as his deputy. The 15-member squad seems mostly on the expected lines, except for a few exceptions, which we anyway always have.

But as soon as the squad was announced, the entire Twitterati were after the board for not including their favorite. While some wanted KL Rahul, some wanted Rinku Singh, some wanted MS Dhoni, and so on. With only 15 players allowed, it’s practically impossible to please each and every fan out there.

But if we had to select the best 11 players who were deserving or were in Contention for the 2024 T20 World Cup, who would they be? Well, let’s look at the most unlucky players playing 11 for Team India to miss the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024.

Team India Unlucky Players Playing 11 for T20 World Cup 2024

Backup Openers – Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad

If we talk about the two best back openers for T20 World Cup 2024, look no beyond Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad. Both have been scoring runs for fun in the Indian Premier League, and if not for Jaiswal’s good runs on the International stage, Shubman Gill would have definitely made it to the final 15. But once Rohit and Kohli call it a day, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shubman Gill will be the automatic choice for Team India in T20 format.

Other Batters – Tilak Varma, Riyan Parag & Rinku Singh

If there is one player, who seldom gets the attention he deserves, but mostly gets going with his work, it is Tilak Varma. Amidst the star-studded batting lineup of MI, Tilak has done wonders in any opportunity he has got for the franchise. Batting in the middle-order is Tilak’s strength, and along with that, Tilak is a handy spinner, who can potentially turn into a good batting all-rounder.

If we talk about the most impressive uncapped players of the season, Riyan Parag’s name will be right at the top. Parag has batted with top-notch maturity this season, and his 400+ runs from 12 innings are the biggest proof of that. Although it is not sure if Parag was in contention for the World Cup squad, his name was definitely among the players that were in discussion as a wild card entry.

Talking about the most deserving player who should have been in the final 15-member squad but wasn’t there, Rinku Singh. I mean, how on earth did a guy who has an average of 90 and a strike rate of 180 in T20Is goes missing from the squad? It’s absolutely bonkers from the management to ignore a player merely on his IPL form, where he anyway doesn’t get good game time.

It’s a crime of the highest level to ignore a player who has done extraordinarily well in a finisher role, which is by far the toughest role to play in the T20 format. There was absolutely no reasoning from the Indian team as they went ahead with Shivam Dube, who was selected for the team for his dual ability – the ability that technically won’t be required in the Indian team.

Backup WK Finisher – Jitesh Sharma

If there is one keeper who was preferred by the Indian team in most of the T20 matches in the last year, but has gone missing for this World Cup, it is Jitesh Sharma. Before the IPL started, Jitesh was the first-choice keeper in the Indian team. But lack of form and rise of other keepers meant Jitesh had to, unfortunately, sit out. But anyway, hopefully, Jitesh takes this in a positive way, and contributes more to his team.

Backup Spinner – Ravi Bishnoi

Up until the start of IPL 2024, it was pretty much confirmed that Ravi Bishnoi was the leading spinner in the squad for T20 World Cup 2024. Ajit Agarkar and Rohit Sharma can deny a thousand times that they didn’t select the team based on 4 weeks of IPL form, but here is the best example of how Chahal, who is without a central contract was selected above Bishnoi, purely basis his IPL form.   

Backup Pacers – Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Mohammed Shami & Khaleel Ahmed

If there is one pacer who should have been on the flight to the US, but couldn’t, it is Mohammed Shami. Just before IPL 2024, Mohammed Shami had an injury, and he was not only out of IPL but also T20 World Cup. Given the lack of quality pacers in the Indian team, Shami could have been very handy alongside Jasprit Bumrah. But unfortunately, God had other ideas.

Aside from Siraj and Arshdeep, who are currently the leading pacers for Team India, there are three more pacers, who were in contention or had been doing well in the current IPL 2024. Among the best backup pacers, there’s Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, and Khaleel Ahmed. Although not the most dangerous names out there, Avesh, Khaleel, and Harshal have done pretty well in the IPL 2024. They at least deserve the discussion, if not selection for the final T20 World Cup squad.  

Team India Unlucky Players Playing 11 to Miss T20 World Cup 2024:

1. Shubman Gill 
2. Ruturaj Gaikwad (c)
3. Tilak Varma
4. Riyan Parag
5. Rinku Singh
6. Jitesh Sharma (wk)
7. Harshal Patel
8. Ravi Bishnoi
9. Mohammed Shami
10. Khaleel Ahmed
11. Avesh Khan

So, that’s about the most unlucky players playing 11 for Team India for T20 World Cup 2024. While Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Amed, and Avesh Khan are unlucky to miss the final squad for Team India, all is not lost for them as they are among the traveling reserves. So, in case, any of the existing players is out due to injury, one of these four will get in. 

Thanks for reading! What is your take on the unlucky players playing 11 for Team India for T20 World Cup 2024? Please email your comments to business@cricalytics.com

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Adesh Kothari

Adesh Kothari is the founder of AK4Tsay1 Cricalytics with over 20 years of experience following Cricket.

Cricket to him is like what Football is to Lionel Messi, Singing is to Lata Mangeshkar, Dancing is to Michael Jackson, and Acting is to Clint Eastwood.

Besides his effervescent love for Cricket, Adesh is an MBA by qualification.