Rohit Sharma named skipper

Six Indian players who are part of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 winning team including skipper Rohit Sharma have been selected for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Team of the Tournament.

The selection panel consisted of commentators Harsha Bhogle, Ian Bishop and Kass Naidoo and ICC General Manager of Cricket Wasim Khan shortlisted 12 players from four nations among the 20 that took part in the ninth edition of the marquee white ball tourney, that was co-hosted by USA and West Indies .

Playing XI (in batting order): Rohit Sharma – Captain  (India), Rahmanullah Gurbaz – Wicketkeeper (Afghanistan) , Nicholas Pooran (Hardik Pandya (India), Axar Patel (India), Rashid Khan (Afghanistan). Jasprit Bumrah (India), Arshdeep Singha (India) and Fazalhaq Farooqi (Afghanistan). 12th Player: Anrich Nortje (South Africa)

As may be recalled Rohit Sharma Captain of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Team lead India to their second title in the competition following a thriller against South Africa in the final to end the nations title drought. India last won an ICC title in 2013, and went through plenty of heartbreaks in the following years.

Opening the batting Rohit finished as the second top run-scorer in the competition, scoring 257 runs in eight innings (Average: 36.71, Strike-rate: 156.7, Fifties: 3).  The pick of his performances came in the win over Australia, when he smashed 92, before adding 57 in the semi-final success against England.

He is joined at the top of the order by Afghanistan wicket-keeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the only man to outscore the Indian veteran who has participated in all edition of the T20 World Cup since 2007.

Rahmanullah made 281 runs (Average: 35.12, Strike-rate: 124.33, Fifties: 3) as minnows Afghanistan progressed to the semi-finals for the first time in their history. His 60 against Australia proved pivotal as Afghanistan progressed from the Super 8s.

In at No.3 is Nicholas Pooran, the West Indies wicket-keeper batter, who scored 228 runs (Strike-rate: 146.15, Fifties: 1) at an average of 38, including a sensational 53-ball 98, laced six boundaries and eight sixes to register the highest individual score in the tourney. The south paw also hit a record 17 sixes, the most in a single edition of the T20 World Cup, eclipsing 16 set by his legendary compatriot Chris Gayle

 The second Indian player in the XI is Suryakumar Yadav who scored 199 runs overall (Average: 28.42, Strike-rate: 135.37, Fifties: 2), the hard-hitting batter rewarded for some crucial innings, notably in the semi-final against England, 47, and the Super 8s win over Afghanistan when he smashed 53 off just 28 balls.

At No.5 is the sole Australian in the team, with Marcus Stoinis included after a stellar tournament. Stoinis contributed with bat and ball, scoring his 169 runs (Average: 42.25, Strike-rate: 164.07, Wickets: 10, Economy: 8.88)  across the tournament.

The next all-rounder comes from India, Hardik Pandya who was Rohit’s deputy in the tourney scored 144 runs (Average: 48, Strike-rate: 151.57, Wickets: 11, Economy: 7.64) Strike-rate: 151.57, Fifties: 1, Wickets: 11, Economy: 7.64) and bowling the all-important final over (3/20) to seal victory against South Africa in the summit clash while playing his 100th T20I match for the Men in Blue.

 His teammate Axar Patel who scored 92 overall (Strike-rate: 139.39, Wickets: 9, Economy: 7.86) was similarly influential with bat and ball comes at No.7. The left-armer was promoted up the order in the final, scoring an invaluable 47, while his three for 23 helped secure victory over England in the semi-final and also the Player of the Match award.

Rashid Khan comes in at No.8, the Afghanistan all-rounder excelling in the Caribbean with 14 wickets (Average: 12.78, Economy: 6.17, Best: 4/17). He led from the front with a  crucial performance against Bangladesh (4/23 and 19*) that helped his team reach the semi-final, following their sensational win over Australia in another Group 1 league match. He also took 4/17 in their win over New Zealand earlier in the tournament to inspire the team past the Group stage.

He is followed by Jasprit Bumrah, the standout performer across the entire tournament. It was his spell that swung the final back India’s way, and he finished with 15 wickets (Average: 8.26, Economy: 4.17, Best: 3/7). Being the most important player right through the tournament he registered the best economy rate by any bowler in a single edition of the men's T20 World Cup and was also the Player of the Tournament.

The final Indian player in the XI is Arshdeep Singh, who was outstanding in his second World Cup. His 17 wickets (Average: 12.64, Economy: 7.16, Best: 4/9) were the joint most of any player.  The left-arm fast bowler was the perfect foil for Jasprit Bumrah with the ball and shone with his early Powerplay spells. In the final, Arshdeep (2/20) played a vital role in India's win, taking the big wicket of Quinton de Kock at a crucial point in the match and then went on to bowl a brilliant penultimate over, conceding just four runs.

The only man to match Arshdeep’s wicket tally was Fazalhaq Farooqi, of Afghanistan (Wickets: 17, Average: 9.41, Economy: 6.31, Best: 5/9), the final player in the XI. The left-arm quick made early inroads into the opposition line-up to put Afghanistan on top in several games. His five for nine against qualifiers Uganda and four for 17 helped beat New Zealand in the group stages, as Afghanistan progressed ahead of the Black Caps.

Runners-up South Africa provide the 12th man in the team, with Anrich Nortje having been outstanding for the Proteas. He took 15 wickets (Average: 13.4, Economy: 5.74, Best: 4/7) with his searing pace and extra bounce to keep batters quiet. Nortje began the tournament with a brilliant 4/7 against Sri Lanka and took at least one wicket in all but one match. In the final, he was the pick of South Africa’s bowlers with figures of 2/26 in his four overs.

Photo above : Indian captain Rohit Sharma will lead players from four different nations who have been named in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Team of the Tournament. (Photo courtesy The ICC)