HOSTS India have announced their 15-man squad for the upcoming World T20 tournament, with MS Dhoni’s side bidding to become the first multiple winners of the shortest format’s most prestigious event. Veteran batsman Yuvraj Singh, 34, has again been included – some nine years on from the inaugural edition of the tournament in which he smashed England’s Stuart Broad for six sixes in an over en route to scoring a world record 12-ball half-century
The Indians, who recently beat Australia 3-0 in the T20 series Down Under, are firm favourites to take the World T20 title and boast a typically impressive blend of youth and experience.
Dhoni, Yuvraj and ageless off-spinner Harbhajan Singh are at the older end of that scale, while 27-year-old Virat Kohli – the world’s No.1-ranked T20 batsman – and the likes of Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Ravi Jadeja and Ravi Ashwin are all well-proven on the biggest stages.
Dhoni also called young quick Jasprit Bumrah the “find of the series” in Australia last month, after the paceman debuted alongside fellow speedster Hardik Pandya.
Kohli was in devastating form against the Australians, making 90 n.o., 59 n.o. and 50 in the three T20s to play a leading hand in the convincing series win
The Indians’ preparation continues next week, with another three-match T20 series, this time against Sri Lanka, before the Asia Cup takes place at the end of February and into March.
The World T20 begins on March 8, with the final taking place on April 3.
India squad: MS Dhoni (C), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya, Ravi Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashish Nehra, Ajinkya Rahane, Harbhajan Singh, Mohammad Shami, Pawan Negi.