“India are the biggest threat for me with regards to who is going to win the World Cup” – Michael Clarke

Former Australian skipper Michael Clarke has picked India as favorites for the T20 World Cup 2024. Indian selectors have picked a potent squad for the T20I showpiece and the Rohit Sharma-led team will look to end their major ICC tittle hoodoo.

India has picked four spinners in the squad, keeping in mind the slow conditions of the Caribbean. The Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel has named Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravindra Jadeja in India’s squad. 

Furthermore, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj are the three frontline pacers in India’s squad.

Michael Clarke said on ESPN, “I think India have taken a risk with the squad they have picked – heavily reliant on spin, very different from Australia. But in the conditions that I have played in the Caribbean I think how you play spin is going to be a huge part of whether you succeed or not. India are the biggest threat for me with regards to who is going to win the World Cup.”

The 2015 World Cup winning captain added that India will be favorites given the amount of cricket they have played.

“If you look at the favorites for the World Cup it’s got to be India just because of the amount of cricket they have played, their preparation has been outstanding. Conditions are different to India but there are a lot of similarities so the players would be used to that,” the former Australian captain said.

Meanwhile, India will kick start their World Cup campaign against Ireland on June 5 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York, followed by the marquee clash against arch-rivals Pakistan on June 09, 2024 at the same venue. India will then play against the USA and Canada on June 12 and 15 respectively.

Squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Hardik Pandya (Vice Captain), 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, Mohd. Siraj.Reserves – Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh Khan