Predictable, non risk-takers and unthreatening – David Llyod’s assessment of India’s T20 World Cup squad

Former England cricketer-turned-broadcaster David Lloyd has called the Indian squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup predictable and a bunch of non-risk-takers. Lloyd feels the chosen 15 for the 20-team tournament are unthreatening, giving opposition teams a chance against the hyped Men in Blue side in the Americas.Lloyd’sremarks have come on the back ofIndia’sdismal record in the ICC tournaments since last winning it more than a decade ago.

On the TalkSPORT Cricket Podcast, Lloyd said the opposition teamswilllook at India as a side with big names and a few match-winners butwouldn’tget intimidated by their playing style, which he called unthreatening.

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"(It is) quite a predictable team. The shackles are not off. Iwouldthink the opposition accepts the quality..yeah, good players these. But theyain'ttaking a risk with bat or ball. So,you'dthink of them as'yeah, they will have their moments,'but theywouldn'tbe really threatening,"said Lloyd.

Rohit Sharma-led Indian Team came close to winningthe T20 World Cup in the previous editionin Australia, where they reached the last four but got knocked out by the eventual winnersEnglandby10 wickets in the semis. They made it to the semis (2016) and even the final (2014) on two occasions before, but the Asian giant failed to win on D-Day. They won the maiden edition in South Africa in 2007.

Chaos in the lead-up to squad selection

Following the first half of the ongoing IPL 2024, the selectors had plenty of options to pick from, given how some youngsters, including Abhishek Sharma and Avesh Khan, were making headlines with their star performances throughout.

Although other names like Rinku Singh, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shubman Gill remained in contention for the T20 WC berth, the selection committee picked a predictable 15 for the marquee event.

Rohit Sharma continues to lead the team, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and star batter Virat Kohli picked as the top-order players. Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya will make up the middle order, while Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samsonare pickedas keeper batters.

Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel are two spin-bowling all-rounders,whereas Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal are front-line spinners. Ace pacers Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj tick the seam-bowling department.

Although Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee ignored KL Rahul, they picked Rinku, Shubman, Avesh and Khaleel Ahmed as travelling reserves.

India will open their T20 WC campaign against Ireland on June 5 before taking on arch-rivals Pakistan in the marquee clash on June 9 in New York.