India vs Sri Lanka T20Is: Five Players Who Deserved A Place In T20I Squad

Dec 5, 2017 at 12:20 PM

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India vs Sri Lanka T20Is: Five Players Who Deserved A Place In T20I Squad

Indian selectors named plenty of new faces in the T20I squad to face Sri Lanka. Riding on performances in the IPL, players like Washington Sundar, Deepak Hooda and Basil Thampi earned maiden call-up but few of the players, though playing well, missed the cut.

Sportzwiki looks at the top players who deserved a place but were not named for the T20I series:

Yuvraj Singh | Indian cricket team |
Yuvraj Singh plays a pull shot against Windies.
Image credits: AFP

Yuvraj Singh – Yuvraj Singh could have been one of the players to be selected for this series when few of the regular players have been given a rest. The reports of Yuvraj clearing the yo-yo test came out on the same day when the team was announced. Hence, he was not considered for selection.

The news of him clearing the yo-yo test will be more satisfying, as he can make a comeback to the side.

Rishab Pant | Delhi Ranji team |
Photo Credit: Getty Images.

Rishab Pant – The presence of MS Dhoni in the T20I squad has and will continue to keep Rishab Pant out of the team. Called in as a T20 specialist, Pant can open and can also bat in the middle order in T20Is, but team India has a stacked up top order with Virat Kohli opening the innings on some occasions. Hence, there is no way Pant could be adjusted there, and the wicketkeeper slot is the only space where he can make a case for himself.

The presence of Dhoni at the helm is enough to keep not just Pant, but any other wicketkeeper as well to be out of contention for a while.

(Read Here: Virat Kohli doesn’t play for records says his childhood coach)

Ranji Trophy 2017-18, Siddharth Desai, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Kerala, Saurashtra
Samson scored 175 in the second innings for Kerala. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

Sanju Samson – The Kerala player was expected to earn a recall to the side after a lengthy period of more than two years. Why not? He has done well in the ongoing season, which also includes a century against Sri Lanka in the practice game, but he was ignored, probably the selectors want him to perform consistently.

Samson, who first made it the national squad in 2014, has made one international appearance in 2015 against Zimbabwe. He is yet to earn a call-up after that series, but is near to earning a national recall should he keep his ongoing form on in the season.

Ecstatic Kaul after taking a wicket. Photo: BCCI

Siddarth Kaul – Coming to the Indian team after making headlines in IPL, Kaul is a surprise exclusion from the T20I side. Even before he is yet to play an international contest, he has already been ruled out of being in T20 contention by selectors.

It is to be noted that Kaul though has made it to Indian team riding on performance for India A, but he was the go-to man bowler for Sunrisers Hyderabad captain David Warner during IPL in final overs. Kaul has shown his mettle in T20 cricket and deserved a place in this format as well. But surprisingly, he has not been included in the side, and he would hope to get a chance in ODI series to open gates for himself across all formats.

(Read Here: Harbhajan Singh wishes Ajit Agarkar Happy Birthday in his own style)

Nitish Rana
Image Courtesy: Twitter

Nitish Rana – Known for hitting big sixes, Nitish Rana could have been darkhorse in T20 side. Reports had suggested that he also appeared for yo-yo test but with selectors retaining players like KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Manish Pandey in T20Is, there was no room for Delhi batsman to make a place for himself in settled batting line-up and hence, he wasn’t selected.

Another reason for his non-selection could be that he is yet to be tested at India A level and probably, selectors may want him to play for second string India side before donning the national jersey.

(Read Here: Oxygen cylinders were arranged for the players: Nic Pothas)

(Read Here: New Zealand Go One Up In Test Series Against Windies)

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