MUMBAI, India, CMC – Fast bowler Vinay Kumar is the only uncapped player in a strong India 15-man World Twenty20 squad announced yesterday, with leg-spinner Piyush Chawla making a return to international cricket after a near two-year break.
The 26-year-old Vinay Kumar has been impressive in the current Indian Premier League while the 21-year-old Chawla edged out Pragyan Ojha and Amit Mishra for the second spinner’s spot on the side.
Apart from Kumar and Chawla, the side is a predictable one with the likes of Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina included in a super strong batting line-up.
“We have selected the best team for the Twenty20 World Cup. We are happy with the performance of every member of the team. They have shown consistency,” said chairman of selectors Kris Srikkanth.
“The Twenty20 World Cup is still one month away and we hope that this team will do well in the event.”
India will do battle with South Africa and qualifiers Afghanistan in Group C of the tournament which runs from April 30 to May 16 across three Caribbean countries.
One of the favourites, they will be based in St Lucia and will be expected to move onto the second round.
Pacers Ishant Sharma, Shantha Sreesanth and RP Singh have all been overlooked as well as talented batsman Virat Kohli, who was in the one-day squad against South Africa last month.
Srikkanth dispelled any notion of any issues of fitness in the squad.