ICC Champions Trophy 2017: Five Players Who Have Slim Chances To Break Into India’s Squad

Apr 20, 2017 at 3:36 PM

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ICC Champions Trophy 2017: Five Players Who Have Slim Chances To Break Into India’s Squad

As Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), is having a keen eye on the performers of the ongoing Indian Premier League, the selection committee would be having tough time to announce the name of 15-member squad for Men in Blue, for the upcoming Champions Trophy in England which is scheduled from June 1st.

The selectors have to announce the squad by or before April 30 according to the International Council’s Rules and Regulations.

Shikhar Dhawan is likely to get slotted as a backup opener and there are also some familiar names, who might get ignored despite doing quite well for the national team, in the recent past at home or away conditions.

Indian had good young prospects warming the bench following the success of Indian Premier League which is celebrating its tenth year this season.

After India claimed the series 2-1 against Australia at home, several star players joined IPL franchises to play the short-paced tournament before they will wrestle in England against other seven countries for one of the major titles.

Aggressive Virat Kohli would be eyeing the glory as ICC Champions Trophy is just 40 days away which seems relatively short period for the die-hard fans.

The hustle and bustle of the short-paced tournament have brought sudden surge amount the fans, who turn to the stadium to cheer for the respective franchises.

We’ve further witnessed players getting injured at the crucial juncture whereas, the sudden drop in form of the players have been another major blow for the respective teams.

However, India did well under the tutelage of Virat Kohli in Tests as they further claimed the One-day International series 3-2 against New Zealand before wrapping the three-match series 2-1 against New Zealand in January this year.

There are many players, who are waiting to find the berth for 50-over coveted Trophy following the remarkable performances in the recent past.

In a mouthwatering contest, India is scheduled to play arch-rivals Pakistan on June 4 at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

Here’re the five players who might get skipped for the Champions Trophy 2017:

Suresh Raina:

Lately, not being in the best of form, the middle-order batsman Suresh Raina could be dropped from the India’s squad for ICC Champions Trophy.

However, he has been played a pivotal role for India while donning the national jersey in the previous encounters.

The left-handed batsman Raina is a live wire on the field and in England where bigger grounds would test deep fielders, Raina is the one, a skipper could bet on with the rocket-like arm and the release of the ball is subtle of the 30-year-old batsman, who could bowl off-spin as well.

Raina has played 10 matches in England where he has scored 359 runs at an average of 39.88 while having the strike rate of 112.18 which further include a hundred at Cardiff in 2014.

Raina has played 223 ODIs for India in which he has amassed 5,568 runs at an average of 35.46.

However, he has played last ODI against Sri Lanka in 2015.

Harbhajan Singh:

One of the India’s biggest names Harbhajan Singh, who represented Indian in 1998 has been forced to miss out the international cricket since 2015 after Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja as a duo added all-important value while tallying their respective wickets column for India.

There seem slim chances of been reckoning Harbhajan for the Champions Trophy by national selectors. Interestingly the veteran off-spinner has been already named as the brand ambassador from India for the summer’s coveted trophy.

It’s visible that Harbhajan is playing without any sort of pressure in the ongoing IPL.

It becomes pertinent that India has already a stock of slow bowlers’ line-up, who did well in the recent past too before showcasing at the short-paced version of the game.

The 36-year-old Jalandhar-born bowler has played 236 ODI in which he has claimed 269 wickets for India.

In four 50-over matches in England, he has bagged just five wickets at an average of 29.

Ashish Nehra:

The most sought-after bowler Ashish Nehra has been a pace spearhead for Indian bowling department in the past.

The 37-year-old fast bowler is past his prime, but can’t still bowl fierce yorkers to get better off from the batsmen.

However, Nehra earlier expressed his desire to play ICC Champions Trophy and give his best. The speciality of Nehra is he can bowl anywhere and his experience would come as handy for the young crop of fast bowlers, who are doing well which further includes Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammad Shami and Jasprit Bumrah.

But considering the fact there are many bowlers knocking the selectors’ door, Nehra could be overlooked by the selectors to invest in young blood.

The left-arm fast bowler Nehra has played 120 ODIs in which he has claimed 157 wickets at an average of 31.72.

However, in England, Nehra has five wickets to his name in five matches at an average of 32.79.

Ambati Rayudu:

It hasn’t been a good omen for Ambati Rayudu to start off his innings for IPL franchise Mumbai Indians as he was stretchered off from the ground when they were playing against Rising Pune Supergiant in their tournament opener in Pune.

However, being ruled out for at least eight days after suffering from a groin injury, the middle-order batsman might find it difficult to see his name in the 15-men squad for the Champions Trophy as he had nothing on show to impress selectors.

There are also other contenders to strengthen the middle-order line-up alongside Yuvraj Singh, who is likely to break into the much-awaited squad.

The 31-year-old Rayudu, who has played 34 ODIs in which he amassed 1,055 runs at the healthy average of 50.23.

The occasional wicket-keeper batsman Rayudu has played last ODI again Zimbabwe in 2016.

His chances are fifty-fifty to get nominated in the squad.

Interestingly, he has scored 117 runs at the staggering average of 117 in England in his three outings.

Axar Patel:

As the Indian selectors would rely on best of the spinning all-rounders, Axar Patel’s name pops out among them with so much of the satisfaction the way he plays for the team.

The 23-year-old left-arm orthodox spinner Patel is capable of smashing the willow hard and score some quick runs for his team to provide the early impetuous against any strong opposition.

However, the selectors have a job to cut out while having several spinners making an impact.

In 30 ODIs, the bowling all-rounder has picked 30 wickets at an average of 30.20.

Interestingly, he didn’t have any game in England so far, but in four ODI against Australia, he has bagged two wickets at an unhealthy average of 58.

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