Former India cricketer, Aakash Chopra opined about the prospects for Sanju Samson and Dhruv Jurel to make it to India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad.
He talked about the opportunities for wicketkeeper batters ahead of ICC’s marquee tournament and that they have to prove their mettle on the back of IPL performances.
Samson and Jurel, the Rajasthan Royals teammates, will be in focus along with Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal as the franchise eye a title win that has eluded them since 2009. Jurel emerged as India’s breakout star in India’s 4-1 triumph over England in the 5-match Test series.
He was included in the national squad because of his performance for RR in IPL 2023 and at domestic level as well. His match-winning 90-run knock helped India win the series in the Ranchi Test match. Meanwhile, Samson, who last represented India in the T20I series against Afghanistan, couldn’t make much impact with the bat. With eyes on the T20 World Cup, starting from June 1, the RR skipper will hope to get back in form to make his case strong.
WHAT ARE INDIA’S WICKETKEEPING OPTIONS FOR T20 WORLD CUP?
“There are many opportunities. Yashasvi Jaiswal has the opportunity to win the Orange Cap. Jos Buttler has the opportunity to show his dominance once again. Sanju Samson has the opportunity to be selected for the T20 World Cup, and the same can be said about Dhruv Jurel,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
However, Chopra also mentioned that despite Rishabh Pant being declared fit and being fully fit doesn’t guarantee his spot in India’s T20 World Cup squad. Hence, there will be competition between the RR players for the wicketkeeping batter’s spot.
“This (RR) is a team where there is a competition between two players for a spot for the T20 World Cup. An opener will not go. So Ishan Kishan is there as an opener keeper, but he will not go. Rishabh Pant is available now. However, it doesn’t mean that he will straight away be selected for the T20 World Cup,” he explained.
Jurel, while speaking at the India Today Conclave 2024, revealed that he has not been thinking about his spot in the T20 World Cup squad and that he will keep on doing his hard work without putting much pressure on himself.
I don’t want to think much about it. One day at a time and just control the controllable, the rest will fall into place. I don’t want to take a lot of pressure and not give myself unnecessary expectations to myself. Whatever will happen, will happen eventually, whatever we can do, will do.
The Rajastan Royals will host the Lucknow Super Giants in their tournament opener at Jaipur on March 24, Sunday.
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