Shardul Thakur can be a game-changer on his day and this decision is certainly an indication of the impact, he has left on the minds of the selectors with his performances.
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All-rounder Shardul Thakur will replace Axar Patel in Team India’s squad for the upcoming edition of the T20 World Cup. This decision by the All-India Senior Selection Committee taken after a discussion with the team management was announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday. Axar who was a part of the 15-member squad previously will now be on the list of standby players. This development is certainly an interesting one, considering the speculation over changes in the Indian team for the prestigious event, on the basis of performances in the ongoing UAE leg of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021.
India’s squad for ICC T20 World Cup: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Rahul Chahar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammad Shami.
Stand-by players: Shreyas Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Axar Patel.
The following cricketers will join the team bubble in Dubai and assist Team India in their preparations: Avesh Khan, Umran Malik, Harshal Patel, Lukman Meriwala, Venkatesh Iyer, Karn Sharma, Shahbaz Ahmed and K. Gowtham.
Shardul has been among the top wicket-takers in the ongoing UAE leg of IPL 2021, accounting for wickets at regular intervals. The all-rounder has accumulated 18 wickets in 15 matches at an average of 27.17. He is Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) leading wicket-taker currently, and among the players MS Dhoni places his bets on when the occasion demands.
However, the addition of players who will assist Team India like Avesh Khan, Umran Malik, Harshal Patel, Venkatesh Iyer and Shahbaz Ahmed is a further indication of the emphasis laid on performances in the UAE leg of IPL 2021. Avesh and Harshal are the top two wicket-takers in the ongoing edition, grabbing the limelight with their stunning performances. Venkatesh Iyer and Umran Malik have drawn attention with their talent and capabilities within a very short span, despite making their IPL debuts during the UAE leg.
Legendary Indian cricketer MS Dhoni will be seen involved as a mentor for the upcoming edition of the T20 World Cup, which has been hailed by Virender Sehwag. Sehwag believes this move will benefit the Indian team to a massive extent. Sehwag played under the captaincy of Dhoni for a decade and enjoys a strong understanding about the cricketer’s strengths as a captain. The popular former cricketer believes that there cannot be a better ‘mentor’ than Dhoni when it comes to young players who often need a guide to help them express themselves on the field.
“I am very happy that MS accepted the offer to be the Team Mentor for the T20 World Cup. I know many people want that MS should again comeback into the mainstream of Indian cricket and being roped in as the mentor is the best thing that could have happened,” said Sehwag in an interaction with PTI.
“As a keeper, MS was exceptional with his understanding of field placements and this is something that will help the bowling unit in this World Cup. The bowlers can pick his brains and get useful tips on planning against a batsman. There are always players in any international side, who are shy and do hesitate to go up to their skipper and strike up a cricketing conversation. MS has always been that kind of a person who is easily approachable and also a perfect trouble shooter for youngsters,” he added.
