India announce squad for T20 World Cup

The selectors kept faith with the majority of the Indian squad that achieved a 3-0 series victory against Australia last week. The 15-member squad, led by MS Dhoni, also includes vice-captain Virat Kohli, who was rested for the T20 series against Sri Lanka, which starts on February 9. Delhi left-arm spinner Pawan Negi, who also played for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, recieved a surprise inclusion into the team for the World T20 and the Asia cup after making it into the squad for T20 series against Sri Lanka. Mohammed Shami, who injured his hamstring before the ODI series in Australia, also found a place in the squad for the World Cup. 

T20I Team: MS Dhoni (Captain), Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashish Nehra, Harbhajan Singh, Mohammed Shami , Pawan Negi.

Manish Pandey, who scored an unbeaten century in the last ODI against Australia, failed to make the cut for the Asia Cup and World Cup squad with Virat Kohli returning to the team in his place. Pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who was selected for the T20 series against Sri Lanka also found himself out of the reckoning with Shami returning to the team after injury.  

The Asia Cup Twenty 20 is scheduled to start on February 24 in Mirpur, Bangladesh with the final on March 6. Apart from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, a qualifier will also take part in the race for the best team in Asia.

India will play hosts to the 2016 ICC World Twenty 20, which is scheduled to be played from March 8 to April 3. The Men in Blue are in Super-10 stage Group 2 along with New Zealand, Australia and Pakistan. The fifth spot in the group will be taken up by the winner of the qualification Group A.  The Super 10 stage Group 1 include defending champions Sri Lanka, South Africa, West Indies, England and the Group B winner. 

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