We are halfway through the IPL 2024 season. While the playoffs race is heating up, the focus is also on the T20 World Cup squad selection, which is set to be done before May 1. Yes, many young names have performed wonderfully well, but will the selectors make bold calls and reward them?

Should an aggressive and in-form batter like Abhishek Sharma, who has been one of the pillars of SRH’s batting brutality, be picked for the T20 World Cup, starting June 1? Then, there is Riyan Parag, who has revived his IPL career with the Rajasthan side. Should India look at grooming young pacers like Harshit Rana and Mayank Yadav for the World Cup?

Is that a risk worth taking? Handing debuts to youngsters in an ICC event puts undue pressure on them. Isn’t it?

At the same time, it’s worth mentioning that India, under MS Dhoni’s captaincy, won the T20 World Cup in 2007 with fresh faces.

There are some other important questions, too. Will Ravindra Jadeja, who is struggling for form with both ball and bat, find a place in the 15? Isn’t Axar Patel a better option?

What about opening the innings with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma? Sanju Samson or Rishabh Pant? KL Rahul in? Shivam Dube as spin-hitter?

In this episode of the Sledging Room Podcast, Akshay Ramesh, Alan John and Kingshuk Kusari discuss the potential T20 World Cup picks.

Tune in!

Produced and Sound Mix By: Kapil Dev Singh