5 Players from India squad for Ireland T20Is who might fail to make it to T20 World Cup 2022
With the T20 World Cup 2022 in the sight, the national selectors are trying to test every youngster on their radar before they could finalize India’s squad for the mega event. They recalled the veteran Dinesh Karthik for the South Africa T20I series alongside Yuzvendra Chahal and Hardik Pandya. Moreover, they handed over Umran Malik and Arshdeep Singh their maiden national call-ups as well.
For the Ireland T20Is, they brought in Rahul Tripathi for the first time ever, while Sanju Samson earned another chance to prove his mettle in the national colours. With only four months left in the biggest T20I event, all players will try to showcase their best skills to impress the team management. However, there are a few of them who are likely to fail to make it to the Indian squad for the multinational event. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the five players who might not find a seat on the flight to Australia.
Five Indian players from the Ireland T20Is squad who might not make it to the T20 World Cup 2022
5- Ruturaj Gaikwad
The right-handed opener is a compact batter and he has been in the scheme of things since his Orange Cap winning season in the IPL 2021. Ruturaj Gaikwad was given a chance in the five-match T20I series against South Africa but he failed miserably to leave a mark. Ruturaj Gaikwad scored only 96 runs in 5 innings, including a fifty at a disappointing average of 19.20.
For India, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul are likely to be the first-choice openers. Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan has established himself as the backup opener in the T20Is ahead of his counterparts. The Pune batter has blown the chances he has got so far, hence, he might not find a place in India’s squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
4 – Sanju Samson
The wicketkeeper-batter wasn’t a part of the Indian set-up during the South Africa T20I series but he found a place for the Ireland tour. Sanju Samson has failed to grab his chances in his international career so far. The right-handed batter has been consistently-inconsistent, hence, he might not even get a game during the Ireland T20Is.
Moreover, the likes of Deepak Hooda and Suryakumar Yadav are currently ahead of Sanju Samson for a place in the Indian batting line-up. Talking about the wicketkeeping options, Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pant are likely to be India’s wicketkeepers in the T20 World Cup. And, if they need a backup, Ishan Kishan can serve as the backup. In the given situation, Sanju Samson might not make it to the Indian T20 World Cup squad.
3 – Venkatesh Iyer
Once touted as the next big thing in Indian cricket, Venkatesh Iyer was seen as the perfect replacement for Hardik Pandya. The all-rounder shot to the limelight after scoring 370 runs during the IPL 2021 and helping his side to reach the final. However, his stocks have fallen massively ever since.
Venkatesh Iyer had a poor IPL, scoring only 182 runs at a miserable strike rate of 107.69. He warmed the bench during the whole South Africa series and he might not get any game in the Ireland series as well. Moreover, Hardik Pandya is back in the Indian squad and looking in the form of his life. It would be mighty difficult for Venkatesh Iyer to play his first major ICC tournament.
2- Ravi Bishnoi
The young leg-spinner has been around the Indian team for a while now. Ravi Bishnoi had an average IPL season for Lucknow Super Giants in 2022 as the right-hander finished with 13 wickets in 14 matches. Furthermore, he didn’t get any game-time in the T20I series against the Proteas.
With the T20 World Cup scheduled to be played in Australia, India are not going to select many spinners in the squad. While Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravindra Jadeja are certain selections in the squad, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel could be the backups. Therefore, young Ravi Bishnoi could fail to make it to the Indian T20 World Cup squad.
1 – Arshdeep Singh
Arshdeep Singh has emerged as one of the most consistent death bowlers in the Indian Premier League in the last couple of seasons. The left-arm pacer was one of the retained players for Punjab Kings ahead of the mega-auction for IPL 2022. He had a decent season with the ball as he was economical despite getting only 10 wickets in 14 matches.
However, the death specialist didn’t get any game during the South Africa T20I series and Umran Malik could be preferred ahead of him in the Ireland T20I series. India’s pace bowling options are already stacked with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Harshal Patel, and Avesh Khan. The youngster is unlikely to get a call for the Indian T20 World Cup squad.
