The World T20 will kickstart right after the IPL 2021 season ends. All the Indian players selected for the World T20 squad and currently playing in IPL 2021 will stay back in the UAE for the mega tournament. However, some Indian players will rue their luck for missing out on the World T20 squad. Cricwizz takes a look at the Indian XI who missed the World T20 bus.
Batsmen
Shikhar Dhawan (captain)
Dhawan is probably the biggest miss of the World T20. Just a couple of seasons ago, he and Rohit Sharma were considered the most consistent opening pair for India in limited-overs cricket. But the emergence of KL Rahul saw Dhawan losing his pairing with Rohit. However, he was still looked certain of World T20 when he was named the captain of the tour of Sri Lanka. However, selectors still kept Dhawan out, while having Rahul and Rohit as first-choice openers, and Ishan Kishan as the back-up opener.
Prithvi Shaw
Shaw has had a great first leg of IPL 2021 and made a great pair with Dhawan for Delhi Capital. He had an outside chance of making it to the World T20 squad, but selectors did not look for more options for openers once Rahul and Rohit were finalized, and Kishan as the back-up opener.
Ruturaj Gaikwad
What a season Gaikwad is having in IPL 2021. Although he was never in the discussions stage for inclusion in World T20, his talent is unquestionable. And now, if any one of the frontline batsmen for World T20 gets injured or is unavailable, Gaikwad could be asked to stay back in the UAE for the mega tournament.
Manish Pandey
Pandey was once a regular in the limited-overs squad, but his stock has fallen recently. His inconsistency and lack of runs now see him out of SRH XI as well. Unless, Manish, a talented cricketer no doubt, corrects his ways, it would it difficult for him to get a buyer in IPL 2022 auction.
Sanju Samson (keeper)
Samson had himself to blame for his exclusion. Despite impressing in the IPL 2020 with his big-hitting, he failed to translate it to national success despite numerous chances at the top of the order. Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan grabbed the opportunity with both hands, scoring a fifty on his T20I and ODI debut.
All-rounders
Washington Sundar
Sundar was favored by his RCB captain Virat Kohli, and if the all-rounder had not been injured, he would have surely made his way to the UAE, keeping R Ashwin out. However, it was Ashwin’s luck that he made it to the World T20 squad despite not playing a T20I for India for few seasons.
Krunal Pandya
Pandya has had a great start to his ODI career, striking a quickfire fifty on debut. He is also a regular in Mumbai Indians XI. However, it was not enough to get a place in the World T20 bus as Ravindra Jadeja, a similarly skilled player, has had higher utility value than him.
Spinner
YS Chahal
Chahal has been the biggest loss for India. In fact, he has been handed out rather a raw deal. Not far away, he was considered India’s first-choice spinner. But an inconsistent show in the first half of IPL 2021, and the emergence of Varun Chakravarthy, and Rahul Chahar saw Chahal missing the World T20 bus. But Chahal looks in great form in the second half of IPL 2021 and could make the squad if any of the chosen spinners gets injured or is unavailable.
Pace bowlers
T Natarajan
The injury to Natarajan saw him being forced out of the reckoning of the World T20 squad. But otherwise, India needed a left-arm quick like Natarajan to add variety to the bowling attack.
Mohammed Siraj
Siraj can count himself unlucky to miss out. Siraj has been the find of the ongoing season, making quality Aussie and English batsmen struggle against his pace and variations in the overseas tour. He has also become the spearhead of the RCB attack, but it was not enough to get a berth in the World T20 squad as experience pacers were preferred over him.
Harshal Patel
Incredible win. Terrific character on display. 💯
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) September 26, 2021
Congrats Harshal on the hat-trick 👏 #PlayBold @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/ptz8MUaQPG
Patel has rediscovered himself as a player in IPL 2021. He took a five-wicket haul in IPL 2021 opener and is currently the purple cap holder. His bowling is suited for the slow tracks of the UAE. But none of these achievements could give him a place in the World T20 squad as experience bowlers have been preferred over him.
Indian XI: Shikhar Dhawan (Captain), Prithvi Shaw, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Manish Pandey, Sanju Samson (keeper), Washington Sundar, Krunal Pandya, YS Chahal, T Natarajan, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj
