2. Dinesh Karthik:
While it is known by now that the shortest format isn’t only about ‘youngsters’, seems like MSK and Co. chose to ignore Karthik’s credentials in T20Is and rejected his name from the India-West Indies T20Is.
Karthik’s fidgety and busy approach bodes well with the fast-paced format. Time and again, the right-hander has carved out vital cameos and understood the format really well. Some of his handy scores in 2018 remain as follows: 13* (6), 39* (25), 29* (8), 31* (34), 30 (13), 22* (18), 33* (29), 8* (3).
In addition, the experienced campaigner has maintained his strike-rate in excess of 150 on most occasions whenever he has faced ten or more deliveries. He struck at less than 100 when India was in a spot of bother versus the Windies at Eden Gardens, Kolkata last year. In the other instance, he struck at 122.22 when Virat Kohli was leading the charge in a stiff chase versus Australia at Sydney.
While Karthik may not have done anything extraordinary in his limited chances in ODIs, he deserved a chance in T20Is. He was getting into the groove of an able-finisher but selectors have taken away that ‘tag’ from him with this exclusion.