Standby players: India has included four reserve cricketers in addition to their 15-member squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2022.
Anticipation among millions of fans for India’s 15-member squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 came to an end an hour ago when the chief selectors announced the team, defying expectations of a post-dinner reveal. Despite widespread media speculation about potential changes after the Asia Cup 2022 debacle, the selection committee opted for a conservative approach ahead of the major tournament.
With the committee backing the current group of players despite concerns over their form and playing style, the onus is now on the players to deliver and validate their spots in the squad.
Standby player list for the T20 World Cup 2022 India squad photo.
In addition to the 15-member squad, Indian selectors have also named four standby players for the tournament. Batter Shreyas Iyer and pacer Deepak Chahar, both standbys from the 2022 Asia Cup, are joined by spinner Ravi Bishnoi and fast bowler Mohammed Shami. After participating in the Asia Cup, Bishnoi has been moved to the standby list, while Shami has not played in a T20I since the ICC T20 World Cup 2021.
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— BCCI (@BCCI) September 12, 2022
One goal 🎯
Our squad 💪🏻#TeamIndia | #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/Dw9fWinHYQ
What is a standby player in cricket?
A standby player in cricket, as the name implies, is not part of the main squad but is ready to step in if needed, typically due to an injury during a tournament. With approval from an ICC (International Cricket Council) committee, a standby player can be called up to join the main squad.
For instance, during the 2022 Asia Cup, all-rounder Axar Patel and pacer Deepak Chahar were brought in to replace the injured Ravindra Jadeja and the unwell Avesh Khan. Similarly, Rishabh Pant, initially part of a three-member standby group, was added to India’s main squad during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 in England.
