The upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, set to be held in the West Indies and the United States of America (USA), is expected to witness spinners playing a pivotal role throughout the tournament. The venues, especially in the West Indies, are anticipated to offer more assistance to spinners compared to fast bowlers. Recent trends indicate slower pitches, particularly in the West Indies, which could significantly impact the dynamics of the matches.
T20 World Cup 2024 Overview
The T20 World Cup will feature a total of 20 teams competing in 55 matches from June 1 to June 29. The tournament promises intense cricketing action as teams battle it out for the ultimate glory in the shortest format of the game. In preparation for the tournament, various teams, including the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), have announced their respective squads.
Anil Kumble picks India’s primary spinner
India’s 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup includes a formidable spin bowling unit, comprising four spinners. Legendary spinner Anil Kumble, while speaking to Jio Cinema, emphasized the significance of spin in the team’s strategy. He suggested that Kuldeep Yadav should be a guaranteed starter in India’s opening match against Ireland, considering the unpredictable nature of the pitches in the USA.
”I don’t know who will be starting in the first game against Ireland. Kuldeep for sure. I don’t know what the pitch conditions are. I don’t think any Indian team has played in the US other than in Fort Lauderdale. So it all depends on the pitch conditions. ‘I guess Kuldeep probably will be the number one spinner in that sense, because he’s your wrist spinner. I’m sure there’ll be one wrist spinner who will play,” Kumble said.
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Spinners in India’s squad
Kuldeep, renowned for his wrist spin, is one of the key spinners selected in India’s squad. He is complemented by Yuzvendra Chahal, another wrist spinner, along with all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. With conditions likely to favour slow bowling, India have strategically built a robust spin bowling arsenal to exploit the conditions effectively.
India’s tournament schedule
India are scheduled to depart for New York in separate batches, with the first batch leaving on May 24 and the second batch after May 26, following the conclusion of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 final. Upon arrival in New York, the team will play a solitary warm-up game before kicking off their official group stage matches from June 5 against Ireland. Subsequently, they will face arch-rivals Pakistan on June 9, followed by encounters against USA and Canada on June 12 and 15, respectively. All of India’s group stage matches, except the final one, will be held in New York, with the last game taking place in Florida.
Also READ: ICC announces warm-up fixtures for the T20 World Cup 2024; India to face Bangladesh
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