T20 World Cup 2024: Rohit Sharma's strategy challenged by Harbhajan Singh as he exposes Team India's weakness

Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh was not very confident with the national squad selected for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024, which is set to be co-hosted by the USA and Caribbean from June 1. However, Harbhajan is concerned with two special decisions for the upcoming mega event.

The former World Cup winner questioned the Indian cricket team management and national selectors’ decision to pick four spinners—Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Kuldeep Yadav—for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024.

He felt this move left Team India with a fast bowler short. The commentator also warned the Men in Blue that they will badly miss Rinku Singh in the global mega event, given his ability to score 60 runs off 20 balls. However, the Lok Sabha MP wished India all the luck for the T20 World Cup 2024.

We are one fast bowler short for ICC T20 World Cup 2024: Harbhajan Singh

Harbhajan Singh was quoted as saying by ANI: “The World Cup team has been selected. The batting is good. I think we are one fast bowler short. One player that I think we will miss is Rinku Singh, because he is someone who can win the match single-handedly for us."

"He can chase down 60 runs in 20 balls. I think selecting four spinners is a bit too much. Three would have been enough. I wish the Team India all the best, hope they bring the cup.”

Sharing his thoughts on India’s potential lineup, the former Indian spinner expressed doubt that they would ever field four spinners in a single game at the T20 World Cup 2024. He mentioned that Ravindra Jadeja will definitely feature in Team India's XI, and there’s a possibility that Kuldeep and Chahal might join him.

Harbhajan noted that the decision to field three spinners would depend on the match conditions, and the final combination would be decided based on the conditions. Furthermore, Harbhajan emphasized the significance of India's matches in the Super Eight phase of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies.

Harbhajan Singh predicts India will beat Pakistan in New York

He said that the Men in Blue’s real tournament will start with encounters against formidable teams like England, Australia, and New Zealand. However, the cricket expert has stressed that Team India's group stage clash with Pakistan on June 9 in New York could set the momentum for Rohit Sharma and his army. He is confident that India will beat Pakistan in the group match, citing their strong track record and great combination.

#WATCH | On Indian team selection for the upcoming #T20WorldCup, former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh says "The team is overall good, but I think there is one less fast bowler in the team and Rinku Singh should have been included. He is such a player who can hit 60 runs in 20… pic.twitter.com/AYSCsjPXnT

— ANI (@ANI) May 21, 2024

Notably, India will kick off their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign against Ireland on June 5 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York, followed by the much-awaited encounter against Pakistan on June 9 at the same venue. India will then play the USA and Canada on June 12 and 15, respectively, in their group matches in the tournament.

Here’s India’s squad for ICC T20 World Cup 2024:

Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj. Reserves: Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh Khan.