Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh backed Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in India’s T20 World Cup squad for the upcoming edition.
Yuvraj, named an ambassador for the tournament to be held in the USA and the West Indies from next month, said: “As you get older people start talking about your age and they forget about your form.
“These guys (Rohit and Virat have been great players for India and they deserve to go (retire) when they want,” Yuvraj said.
While Yuvraj, winner of the inaugural T20 World Cup, backed Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for this edition, he insisted the duo must make way for youngsters post the tournament. “I would like to see more younger players in the T20 format, because it gets the load off them (experienced players) playing 50-over (ODIs) and Test matches.
“After this (T20) World Cup I would like to see a lot of younger guys come into the team and make the T20 side for the next World Cup,” Yuvraj told ICC.
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Shivam Dube, the darkhorse
Yuvraj also backed Shivam Dube, a batter often likened to the 42-year-old in terms of power and ball-striking as a left-hander. Dube has been prolific touch this IPL season with the Chennai Super Kings, carrying his hitting form from 2023. “I would like to see Shivam Dube in the squad. He has been in and out of the (India) team, but this IPL he has been batting very well and he is someone who can be the game-changer. There are a lot of other guys who have been playing for a while now, but I would like to see Shivam Dube in the mix.”
In terms of spin-bowling options, Yuvraj also backed veteran leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, India’s leading wicket-taker in the format to bolt into the squad. Chahal, who made his debut in 2016, has yet to feature in a T20 World Cup, having missed out on both the 2021 and 2022 editions of the showpiece event.
He also backed young uncapped seamer Harshit Rana, who has excelled with the Kolkata Knight Riders this season. The 22-year-old Delhi bowler has picked up nine wickets from five outings thus far.
Pant, Samson over DK
With the wicket-keepers’ tussle hotting up, Yuvraj said it would be wiser for India to back younger keepers in Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson rather than turning back to Dinesh Karthik who has rekindled his finishing capabilities with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru this IPL season.
Karthik started the last T20 World Cup in Australia as India’s designated keeper before losing his spot ahead of the team’s semifinal defeat to England. “DK (Karthik) has been batting well, but the thing with DK is the last time (2022) they picked him and the T20 WC was on he didn’t get to play. If DK is not in your XI I don’t think there is any point in picking him.
“There is Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson and both guys are in great form and obviously they are younger,” Yuvraj stated.
Key players
Yuvraj, best remembered for his iconic six sixes in an over against Stuart Broad in the 2007 T20 World Cup in South Africa, backed Suryakumar Yadav to be India’s critical gamechanger in the first 20-team World Cup alongside pace ace Jasprit Bumrah.
“Suryakumar Yadav (is India’s key player) because the way he plays, he can change the complexion of a game in 15 balls. I think Jasprit Bumrah is also the key with the bowling and I would like to see a leg-spinner in the squad as well, like Yuzvendra Chahal as he has been bowling really well.
“But being a batter, I would say Suryakumar Yadav (is the key player).”
India open their campaign on June 5, nine days after the IPL 2024 season, facing Ireland at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. Pakistan, Canada and co-hosts United States complete India’s group.
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