India announces T20 World Cup squad,Dhoni to mentor team

Ravichandran Ashwin has been included as part of India's 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup in UAE and Oman beginning October 17. The selectors made an even bigger call on Wednesday, naming former skipper MS Dhoni to mentor the team at the World Cup, Led by Virat Kohli, with Rohit Sharma as the vice-captain, the Indian squad doesn't include opener Shikhar Dhawan while leg spinner Varun Chakravarthy has made the cut.Pacer Mohammed Shami too has been included in the squad while Ishan Kishan has been included as the second wicketkeeper in the squad. In addition, Shreyas Iyer, Shardul Thakur and Deepak Chahar have been named as standby players.

Speaking in the press conference to announce the squad, BCCI secretary Jay Shah said Dhoni's role as a mentor will be limited to the T20 World Cup. Asked whether the team management had requested for Dhoni to join the squad, BCCI secretary Jay Shah said it was his decision. “I spoke to MS and he was ok and agreed to be a mentor of team India. I also discussed with my colleagues. I spoke to captain, the vice-captain (Rohit Sharma) and Ravi Shastri. They are on the same page,” he said in a virtual media meet.

India have been placed in Group 2 of the Super 12 phase for the World Cup. Eight teams have already qualified to this phase, where they will be joined by four teams from the first round. India's group also features Afghanistan, New Zealand and arch-rivals Pakistan and will have two more teams from the first round. Here is the full India squad: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Rahul Chahar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohd Shami.