T20 World Cup 2024: Mohammad Kaif picks India's 15, prefers Riyan Parag over Rinku Singh

Mohammad Kaif predicted India's squad for the T20 World Cup 2024, which is scheduled to be played in the West Indies and the USA in June, later this year. He surprisingly left out the ever-improving Rinku Singh from his 15-man line-up.

Rinku Singh has been batting on a different level ever since he hit Yash Dayal for five consecutive sixes in the last over to win a remarkable game for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) against Gujarat Titans (GT) last year in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The diminutive cricketer went on to make his debut for India and played 15 T20Is and two ODIs.

In his T20I career, Rinku has amassed 356 runs from 11 innings at a staggering average of 89 and an awe-inspiring strike rate of 176.24. However, former India cricketer Kaif picked Shivam Dube and Riyan Parag in his 15-member squad ahead of the 26-year-old, citing the exceptional form the two players have been in the ongoing season of the IPL.

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“I will go with Shivam Dube. He is in great form and plays spin splendidly. He drives the game very well after six overs. I will take Riyan Parag's name. He is playing exceptionally well and deserves to be in the squad,” Kaif said on the Star Sports show 'Follow the Blues'.

Kaif also picked Rishabh Pant in his squad as the first-choice wicketkeeper-batter. Interestingly, he named no backup wicketkeeper for the former India Under-19 captain. Pant returned to competitive cricket during IPL 2024 and has scored a couple of half-centuries from six matches. Kaif left out Shubman Gill from the squad and kept Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal as the only two specialist openers. The cricketer-turned-commentator also named Yuzvendra Chahal as the fourth specialist spinner in the side.

“Yashasvi Jaiswal will open alongside Rohit Sharma. Then Virat Kohli at No. 3, Suryakumar Yadav at No. 4, Hardik Pandya at No. 5, and Rishabh Pant at No. 6. I will keep a lot of all-rounders because you need batting depth. So, I will say Axar at No. 7 and Ravindra Jadeja at No. 8. After that, Kuldeep Yadav, who is a skilful bowler, at No. 9. Then two fast bowlers — Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh. That makes it your XI,” the former Delhi Capitals assistant coach said.

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“If I talk about the squad, you will take one more spinner. I feel you will have to keep Chahal. He brings the option of a leg-spinner. Ashwin went last time. He is not taking that many wickets this time (in the IPL). I believe Chahal is a very good bowler in those conditions where the ball will turn,” the ex-India cricketer reckoned.

Mohammad Kaif's T20 World Cup squad for India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant (WK), Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Shivam Dube, Riyan Parag, Mohammed Siraj.