Selectors on April 15, Monday announced Team India’s squad for the ICC World Cup Tournament with KL Rahul in for the highly debated No.4 spot instead of A. Rayudu.
Selectors announced team at BCCI headquarters Mumbai.
Team: Virat Kohli (Capt), Rohit Sharma (vc), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Vijay Shankar, MSD (wk), Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd Shami.
Speaking about the selection MSK Prasad said, “After the Champions Trophy, we tried quite a few people [at No.4]. We gave a few more chances to Rayudu. What Vijay Shankar brings is three dimensional. We are looking at him at no. 4 to begin with.”
On Pant, he said “Definitely a case where we debated in length. We all were in unison that either pant or DK will come in only when Mahi is injured. In an important game wicket keeping is also important. That’s the reason we went with Dinesh Karthik”.
“To begin with, KL Rahul will be reserve opener. If need arises the team management will take a call on him playing in the middle-order”, he said on Rahul.