“If Dinesh Karthik is not in your eleven…”: Yuvraj Singh’s verdict on the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup. cricket news

Former star all-rounder Yuvraj Singh evaluated the wicketkeeping options for the Indian team, the players who will be crucial for India and gave his opinion on what the future holds for veteran players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup. , Despite having abundant talent at its disposal, India is stuck in a ‘dilemma’ when it comes to deciding on wicketkeeping options. Dinesh Karthik has emerged as a surprise contender for the wicketkeeping spot after showing excellent form in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season.

The experienced wicketkeeper-batsman has been the driving force for RCB, especially in the death overs. This season, Karthik has scored 262 runs in nine matches at an average of 52.40 and a tremendous strike rate of 195.52.

Rishabh Pant, who returned to competitive cricket after 14 months in the IPL, has found his rhythm and has scored 342 runs for Delhi Capitals this season, including three fifties in nine matches.

Sanju Samson is another player who can join the team because of his high-scoring season as the captain of Rajasthan Royals. KL Rahul remains in the mix as a batsman as well as wicket-keeping player.

While evaluating the options, the 2011 World Cup winner said that Karthik’s inclusion would only make sense if he opens for the Indian team in the marquee event.

“DK (Karthik) is batting well, but the thing with DK is that last time (2022) they picked him and the T20 World Cup was going on, he didn’t get a chance to play. If DK is not in your eleven So I don’t think there is any point in picking him. Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson are there and both guys are in great form and obviously they are young, I would like to see DK in the team, but if he doesn’t play then you “But it would be someone who is young and can bring change,” Yuvraj was quoted as saying by the ICC.

Yuvraj picked world number one T20I ranked batsman, Suryakumar Yadav as the key player for the Men in Blue, a batsman who can make the difference for the Indian team in the space of just 15 balls.

“Suryakumar Yadav (is India’s key player). Because the way he plays, he can change the course of the game in 15 balls. And he is definitely a definite player…to win this T20 World Cup for India. , Surya is going to do it.” Be the key,” said the crown prince.

Apart from Surya, Yuvraj suggested star speedster, Jasprit Bumrah as the player who will change the momentum in India’s favor in the bowling department. He also stressed the need to make a leg spinner like Yuzvendra Chahal a part of the team.

“I think Jasprit Bumrah is important in bowling as well and I would also like to see a leg spinner like Yuzvendra Chahal in the team because he is bowling really well. But being a batsman, I would say Suryakumar Yadav is the main player).” Yuvraj added.

Another player who impressed Yuvraj with his remarkable strokeplay is Chennai Super Kings batting all-rounder Shivam Dubey.

The left-handed batsman has performed brilliantly especially in the middle overs. He is CSK’s second-highest run-scorer with 311 runs in eight matches at an average of 51.83.

Yuvraj said, “I would like to see Shivam Dubey in the team. He has been in and out of the (India) team, but he has been batting very well in this IPL and he is a player who can be a game changer. “

“There are many others who have been playing for some time now, but I would like to see Shivam Dubey in the team,” he said.

India will begin its T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on June 5.

The much-awaited match between arch-rivals India and Pakistan will be played on the same ground on June 9.