5 players who can make a comeback into the Indian Cricket team
Apr 20, 2016 at 4:38 PM
The IPL has helped the growth of the sport in Indian in more ways than one. It has helped strengthen the domestic circuit of the sport in most states and has also provided young players an opportunity to play alongside the stars of the spot from all over the world.
Apart from helping the domestic players, the IPL has also provided a platform for players who were once a part of the Indian national team and are now forgotten. With plenty of games week in week out, the tournament provides plenty of chances for the former Indian players who, if can perform consistently have a great chance to dawn the Indian jersey once again.
There has been a number of impressive performance by a number of players not only in the IPL but also in the domestic games leading to the tournament. And with a busy cricketing season coming up for India, let’s take a look at the players who can potentially make it back into the Indian national team:
- Gautam Gambhir:
The former Indian opener whose most important knock came in India’s World Cup final victory at Wankhede against Sri Lanka has not been in the books of the Indian selectors for more than a year now.
Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma, though have been frustrating at times, have built a solid partnership up front and have cemented their place at the top of the Indian batting order. Both of them have scored plenty of runs even away from home but the left-handed Dhawan has slowly fallen away. He failed miserably in the T20 World Cup that just concluded and lost his place in the semi-final game against West Indies to Ajinkya Rahane.
And the Kolkata Knight Riders batsman has been in sublime form so far in the IPL and has amassed 226 runs in just 4 innings and has helped his team to the top of the table. Surely, the Indian selectors will have one eye on the 34-year old who might have a year or two left in him.
- Robin Uthappa:
The wicket-keeper batsman from Karnataka has not done much wrong in his career. He was always used as a fringe player in the Indian batting line-up when he was a part of it and failed to really cement his place in the line-up.
And with Dhoni taking the place behind the stumps, Uthappa found no place when he was at his prime. However, the hard-hitting batsman is now showing glimpses of form as he took his side to a victory over the Kings XI Punjab recently with a half-century. He has scored 134 runs so far this tournament and is looking full of confidence.
And at just 30-years of age, Uthappa has a lot more to give to the world of cricket and it will be interesting to see if the BCCI decide to bring him back into the pick of things if his form so for in the IPl continues.
- Ambati Rayudu:
The Andhra Pradesh born right-hand batsman had a very good reputation in the domestic circuit when he was young and was seen as the next biggest thing in Indian cricket.
However, he failed to live up to the expectations and failed to provide consistent performances in the domestic set-up to warrant a place in the international squad. However, he luckily got his chance a few years ago and was given a consistent run of games at down the order. Rayudu could not find the consistency the Indian team was looking for and he was thrown out of the national team.
Ever since he has been an important player for the Mumbai Indian’s in the IPL and the Baroda team in the domestic circuit but has not got himself a call back into the national team.
However, with some good performances this campaign, he may well get his chance to represent his country once again.
- Irfan Pathan:
One of the most productive all-rounders to have played for India over the last decade, Irfan Pathan has now been reduced to a fringe player even at his IPL franchise.
Looking at his recent outings in the domestic arena, Pathan is still fit and sharp and has still got the bite that made him a fierce opening bowler. He has also worked on his batting and is now playing a big role in the Pune franchise that was established just this year. He started the season well but will have to provide consistent performances to impress the selectors if he wants a way into the national team.
India at the moment have Hardik Pandya as the seam bowling all-rounder but in the longer formats of the sport, Pathan still remains one of the few quality players in his position. So this is a great chance for the Baroda player to have a shot at playing for India once again.
- Amit Mishra:
The wily leg spinner is now 34-year old but is still arguably the best exponent of wrist spin bowling in the country. Wrist spin has generally been the hardest style to bowl and an ever harder one to face and Mishra has mastered the art over the years playing in the domestic circuit.
He has been in and out of the national team for some time now but has not found a place in the team in recent tournaments. However, he has started the IPL campaign with a bang bagging 4 wickets in his first outing and is on his way to challenging the Purple Cap.
Though he is 34-years old, he has still shown signs of commitment in recent games with the Delhi Daredevils and will be hoping for a good campaign to find himself a place in the Indian national team.
Who do you think should make it to the Indian team for the busy season scheduled after the IPL?