Winner of two World Cups (2007 T20 & 2011 ODI), former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has been named as one of the ambassadors of T20 World Cup 2024.
New Delhi: Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah are going to be the key players for India in the upcoming T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies, reckoned former all-rounder and winner of two ICC titles, Yuvraj Singh. The former Indian all-rounder has been named as one of the global ambassadors for the mega extravaganza that starts on June 1. India were the inaugural champions of the T20 World Cup in 2007. It was in the same edition that Yuvraj smashed six sixes in an over against England’s Stuart Broad.
Since 2007, India have never won a T20 World Cup, despite coming close on a few occasions. While the Men in Blue finished runners-up in 2014, they reached the semifinals in 2016 and 2022. With all their top players performing in the ongoing IPL, India have a great chance to win their second title.
Identifying the key player for India in the tournament, Yuvraj was spot on to name Suryakumar if Rohit Sharma’s men are to win the tournament. “Suryakumar Yadav (is India’s key player),” Yuvraj told ICC. “Because the way he plays, he can change the complexion of a game in 15 balls.
“And he is definitely a surety…for India to win this T20 World Cup, Surya is going to be the key. I think Jasprit Bumrah is also the key with the bowling,” added Yuvraj before naming Yuzvendra Chahal as his leg-spin option. “I would like to see a leg-spinner in the squad as well, like Yuzvendra Chahal as he has been bowling really well. But being a batter, I would say Suryakumar Yadav (is the key player).”
For the wicketkeeper’s slot, several names like KL Rahul (Lucknow Super Giants), Sanju Samson (Rajasthan Royals), Rishabh Pant (Delhi Capitals), Ishan Kishan (Mumbai Indians) and Dinesh Karthik (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) have come to the fore for a ticket to T20 World Cup. Among all, Pant and Karthik have received the loudest cheer in IPL 2024.
Yuvraj opined that if Karthik is to be included in the squad, the RCB star should have a guaranteed place in the playing XI. “DK (Karthik) has been batting well, but the thing with DK is the last time (2022) they picked him and the T20 WC was on he didn’t get to play,” Yuvraj noted.
“If DK is not in your XI I don’t think there is any point in picking him. There is Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson and both guys are in great form and obviously they are younger. I would like to see DK in the mix, but if he is not going to play then you would rather have someone who is younger and can make the difference,” he stated.