Would have picked Gill, Umran Malik and  Shami in India's T20 WC squad: Dilip Vengsarkar

Shubman Gill in action [PC: Twitter]

India recently announced their 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup in Australia. Few members in the squad have been hotly debated amongst former players, fans, and critics. 

Former India international Dilip Vengsarkar has entered the conversation and named players who according to him fit the assignment perfectly.

Speaking to The Indian Express, the former India chief selector wished to have seen paceman Umran Malik and in-form opener, Shubman Gill, on the flight to Australia. 

The 66-year-old also expressed his surprise over non-inclusion of Mohammed Shami in the main squad.

"I would have picked Mohammed Shami, Umran Malik and Shubman Gill for the T20 World Cup. Would have given them a long run in T20Is because they all had a brilliant IPL season,”

Vengsarkar also believed that Surya Kumar Yadav could play the role of a finisher if needed.

"I can’t really comment on who bats at what number. It is up to the think tank, the coach, the captain and the vice-captain. But I feel Suryakumar Yadav, who is batting at 4, can bat at 5 as well. He can be a great finisher.”

Malik impressed one-and-all with his sheer pace during the IPL 2022. Playing for the Sunrisers Hyderabad, he claimed 22 wickets, including a spectacular fifer against the eventual champions, Gujarat Titans. 

Similarly, Gill made a name for himself, scoring 483 runs in the IPL 2022. He carried his red hot form into ODIs for India, winning man-of-the-series award on the Zimbabwe and West Indies tours. 

Shami, too, playing for the Titans, picked up 20 wickets across the tournament. The veteran has been picked in the travelling reserves to Australia, and will feature in T20Is against South Africa at home.

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