The All India National Selection Committee has announced the team’s 15-man squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup. The side’s gun fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and death-overs specialist Harshal Patel have made a return to the squad after recently missing the Asia Cup due to their respective injuries. Bumrah was ruled out of the Asia Cup due to a back injury while Patel could not take part due to a side strain injury.

Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Axar Patel will constitute the spin battery of the team while Ravindra Jadeja has been ruled out with a knee injury.

Bumrah, Patel, Arshdeep Singh, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar will take the onus of the fast bowling unit for the T20I showpiece. Mohammad Shami hasn’t been included in the main squad but he is part of the reserve players list, which also includes Deepak Chahar, Shreyas Iyer, and Ravi Bishnoi.

Both Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik have been included in the squad and it will be interesting to note India’s playing XI as both of them might not fit. Deepak Hooda also retains his spot in the squad despite limited opportunities in the recent past and he can provide the sixth bowling option to the team.

India will begin their World Cup campaign against Pakistan at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground on 23rd October. Team India was knocked out of the Super 12 stage in the previous edition of the T20I showpiece and they will be looking to come up with a better performance.

India squad for ICC T20 World Cup: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul (vc), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh.

Standby players -Mohammed Shami, Shreyas Iyer, Ravi Bishnoi, Deepak Chahar.