Former Indian wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel has picked India’s probable playing XI for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Patel left out under-fire Sanju Samson and fast bowler Harshit Rana from his final XI. Samson could only manage 46 runs in five matches against New Zealand and Patel wants in-form Ishan Kishan to open the innings with Abhishek Sharma.

Kishan scored 215 runs in four games against the Kiwis at an average of 53.75. The former gloveman wants Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma to bat at number three and four respectively. SKY was at his best as he scored 242 runs against the Blackcaps whereas Varma will return to action after undergoing surgery.

Patel then picked Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh and Axar Patel in his team. The former Gujarat captain wants Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh to play together and backed Varun Chakravarthy as the main spinner.

“My playing XI for the first game will be Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma at No. 3 and No. 4, then Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh and Axar Patel,” the former India wicketkeeper-batter said on his Star Sports.

“Then Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakaravarthy. That will be my playing XI. I would like to include both Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah,” he added.

The former left-hander wants the selectors and team management to back in-form Ishan Kishan ahead of Sanju Samson.

“I feel Ishan Kishan is keeping quite well too. He kept in the previous match as well, and will also keep in the warm-up match. You want your in-form player in the team when the World Cup starts. In my opinion, when the team selection happens, India will have to include Ishan Kishan,” he replied.

India will begin their T20 World Cup campaign against the USA on February 7.