India announce World Twenty20 squad

Injured quick Mohammed Shami and rookie Delhi all-rounder Pawan Negi were the only two new faces drafted into the 15-strong squad for the Asia Cup and ICC World Twenty20 named here on Friday.

India squad: MS Dhoni (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Harkhik Pandey, Ravi Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashish Nehra, Ajinkya Rahane, Harbhajan Singh, Mohammad Shami, Pawan Negi.

Ishant Sharma has also been ignored by the selectors.

With selectors naming old warhorses, there was not much scope for suspense, but Patil said this was the best possible 15. “We mentioned large amount of titles”, included Patil.

Asked about Pandey’s, Patil said: “Regarding Manish Pandey, it is hard to say whether a player is dropped or rested…” Barring a few notable exceptions, the squad bears a pretty identical look to the one that whitewashed Australia at their home recently. What the player thinks about his future is entirely his decision.

“We have a right to pick (a) player on his performance and fitness”.

Similarly, Harbhajan Singh is being seen as Ashwin’s cover and will only get a chance if the Tamil Nadu tweaker fails. The selectors also kept faith in veterans Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh.

Most of the players really picked themselves in the team not only because they are regular members of Team India, but also based on some heartening performances Down Under.

“He has been a great captain and we (selectors) have always taken his views in the last four years”.

When asked about the risk that Shami carried considering that he ahd not played global cricket for close to a year, Gavaskar said, “It wil be a little bit of a concern”.

The chairman of the selection committee, however, was not ready to get into a discussion on whether Dhoni should quit after the World Cup.

“We’ve no to inform people when to retire, we’ve complete religion in the captaincy of Dhoni”. Mohammed Shami back for World T20, India have picked seamer Mohammed Shami for the World T20 and Asia Cup. This decision might probably have been taken in the light of Rahane’s proven ability to bat as a floater in T20s.