28 May,2024 04:40 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Eoin Morgan (Pic: File Pic)
Former England captain Eoin Morgan feels that Team India's incredible strength and depth make them the strongest side in the T20 World Cup 2024.
Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024, Team India has kept the same squad which they had in the previous edition of the T20 WC. The recent squad has three additional names Yashasvi Jaiswal, Yuzvendra Chahal and Sanju Samson.
"The strongest side even with injuries throughout the tournament is India. Their strength and depth is absolutely incredible," Morgan said on Sky Sports.
"And it's almost probably, we're talking about who the players that were missed out in their squad of 15 because of the quality that they possess.
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"They are favourites for me, the quality they have on paper, if they produce it I think they can beat anybody quite well in the tournament," he added.
India were spoilt for choice as they were forced to leave the likes of Shubman Gill and KL Rahul. "The only decision I would have had differently and if I was selecting the squad, I would have Shubman Gill over Yashasvi Jaiswal. I have played alongside him, I know how he thinks. I know how he works.
"I feel he's a future leader within that side and I think in big moments, in World Cups the more leaders the better. Even if he's sitting on the sideline, you still need inspiration from here and there, a sense of positivity."
India has been favourites in almost all the tournaments they enter, but the side has now won an ICC trophy over a decade. The last time the "Men in Blue" came victorious was in 2013 when they won the Champions Trophy.
In the last edition of the T20 showpiece, India fell short against England in the semifinals in Adelaide. "I think they can (win), because they have go to a stage now where Adelaide would hurt, recently losing the (ODI) World Cup at home to Australia in front of 1,25,000 Indian fans.
"The spinner will come into the game, the level of batsmanship will come into the game if the wickets slow down like we think. But also that excellence in power hitting is the point of difference for me. Shivam Dube has to play,I think he'll set this World Cup alight.
Many argue that India's cricket in the T20 format has improved by leaps and bounds since the advent of the IPL. But former England captain Michael Atherton pointed out that it was ironic that the only time India won the T20 World Cup was before the IPL came into being. "It's also an irony, because everyone talks about the IPL and how it has improved India's T20 cricket. The irony is that the only time they have won is pre IPL," Atherton said.
The "Men in Blue" were the first T20 World Cup winners in the inaugural season in 2007. The team lifted the title under Mahendra Singh Dhoni's captaincy after defeating arch-rivals Pakistan.
(With PTI Inputs)
