ICC T20 World Cup 2024: Can Rohit Sharma’s India win the World Cup

Captain – Rohit Sharma

Fixtures – Canada (June 15), United States (June 12), Pakistan (June 9), and Ireland (June 5)

Finest finish at the T20 WC – 2007 Champions

India’s anguish of losing the 50-over Cricket WC final on home soil and the experience of a balanced side could motivate them to T20 WC glory in the West Indies and the US, according to Cheteshwar Pujara.

Sharma, who has played 103 Tests and 5 one-day internationals for India, will have high expectations pinned on the players when they start their campaign on June 5 against Ireland.

Pujara believes India has tons of experience in their ranks, with captain Rohit Sharma having played in all 8 editions of the T20 WC thus far.

India charged into the final of last year’s 50-over WC with ten straight wins, only to be handed a dreadful loss by Australia.

They will focus on another final but first will be the business of the tournament’s marquee battle against Pakistan on 9 June.

The Indian community on the North American East Coast will have 2 more chances to see their team when they play Canada and the USA as well.

Pujara picks Jaiswal and Suryakumar to Shine

Pujara, who has played the shortest version of the game with numerous IPL sides up until 2021, believes middle-order batter Suryakumar Yadav will play a chief role besides upcoming star Yashaasvi Jaiswal.

Jaiswal has become a critical member of the side and will be opening India’s batting with his team captain Rohit Sharma.

Pujara said that Suryakumar plays an important role as he bats in the middle order. He further warned India against complacency in the Caribbean, where the tournament will shift completely following the group stage.

Jasprit Bumrah will be leading India’s pace bowling attack, while their spin alternatives will be led by Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav, whose all-round abilities make them stand out for Pujara.

1 game at a time

A prior mainstay of India’s Test side, Pujara believes India’s backroom team will have drawn up a clear game mindset and plan before the T20 WC, particularly since they will be looking to undo the hurt of the 6 months since losing the 50-over WC final.

India triumphed in the inaugural edition of the 2007 T20 WC.

The right-handed batter wishes India to take it one step at a time until the final on June 29 in Barbados.

3 cricketers to watch

Virat Kohli – The Indian talisman concluded on top of the run-scoring charts at the newly finished IPL. Kohli was the player of the tournament at the Cricket WC 2023. At 35 years old, the T20 WC could mark his final try to add another trophy to a shimmering career and Kohli is not one to miss too many opportunities.

Suryakumar Yadav – Yadav captained India to triumph against Australia in the T20 series late last year. The right-hander has marvelously scored 4 T20I centuries and brags a strike rate of 171.

Jasprit Bumrah – Considered as one of the world’s best bowlers, Bumrah in T20 internationals averages 19 with the ball with an economy of 6.55. The 30-year-old appeared internationally in 2016 and is now the go-to bowler for India’s seam attack.