5 Indian Players Who Will Be Sidelined From Tests Ahead Of New WTC Cycle

Team India gave an outstanding performance in WTC 2023, reaching the final against Australia. India played 6 Test series during WTC 2021-23 cycle and won 4 of them. They lost one series to South Africa while one series against England ended in a tie.

WTC 2023 saw some Indian players arriving in the limelight. Players like Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Mohammed Siraj, and Shardul Thakur are some names who played a lot of matches during the WTC 2023 with amazing shows. There were also some Indian players who failed to impress with their performances. Here we talk about 5 Indian players who will be sidelined from the Test ahead of the new WTC cycle.

5 Indian Players Who Will Be Sidelined From Tests Ahead Of New WTC Cycle

5. KL Rahul

KL Rahul is the first player on this list. KL Rahul was the vice-captain and opener for India for the major part of WTC 2023. However, he lost his place after continuous failure with the bat. In IND vs AUS Test series, he could only score 38 runs across 2 games and was then replaced by Shubman Gill, who slammed a century in one of the matches.

If we take a look at the middle order, players like Shreyas Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, and Cheteshwar Pujara have tightened their grip in that position. Rahul does not make up for a powerful option for a wicketkeeper too, as he is only an occasional wicketkeeper. In the upcoming WTC cycle, KL Rahul might be sidelined to make way for other players who have impressed with their performance in 2023.

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4. Umesh Yadav

Umesh Yadav is another player who might be sidelined in the next WTC cycle 2023. Umesh Yadav did play some games in World Test Championship 2021-23. The right-arm pacer played 9 Tests and picked 22 wickets at an average of 33.72. Yadav was sidelined in the current tournament too.

Due to the ouster of Jasprit Bumrah due to injury, he managed to make a comeback to the team. However, he has largely failed to get regular wickets and might be replaced by some other pacer in the next WTC cycle. Moreover, with the return of Jasprit Bumrah, Yadav will find it hard to get a place in the Test squad.

Also Read: WTC Final: “When In Doubt, It’s Not Out” – Virender Sehwag Lashes Out At The Third Umpire After Shubman Gill’s Controversial Dismissal

3. Jaydev Unadkat

Jaydev Unadkat made almost an impossible comeback in Tests when he played a Test after a 10-year gap. The left-arm seamer played for India in the Test series against Bangladesh in December 2022. He played 1 Test and managed to get 3 wickets.

He was later picked in Australia Tests as well but did not play any game. He is also part of the ICC World Test Championship final but wasn’t picked in the playing XI. In the next cycle, the 31-year-old seamer is highly expected to be sidelined to make way for other young pacers.

Also Read: WTC Final: “I Knew It Had Carried To Him On The Full” – Ricky Ponting On Cameron Green’s Catch To Dismiss Shubman Gill

2. Hanuma Vihari

Hanuma Vihari was a key part of the Indian Test team in Tests till the end of 2021. However, with Shreyas Iyer’s rise in the middle order, Vihari was sidelined in Tests. In WTC 2021-23, the right-handed batsman played just 4 games.

He scored only 215 runs across 7 innings at an average of 35.83. The 29-year-old largely failed in the one-off Test match against England last year, when he scored just 20 and 11 in two innings. Later, he was dropped from the Test side. In the upcoming WTC cycle too, Vihari is highly unlikely to make a comeback.

Also Read: WTC Final: “We Need To Practice Letting Go” – Virat Kohli Posts A Cryptic Instagram Story After Day 4 Of ICC World Test Championship Final

1. Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav is another player on this list. Yadav made his Test debut in IND vs AUS Test series in March this year. He replaced the injured Shreyas Iyer in the playing XI. However, he could only score 8 runs in the 1 innings he batted. Later, he was replaced by Iyer in the next game.

Also Read: WTC Final: Shubman Gill Reacts To His Controversial Dismissal; Shares Picture Of Ball Touching The Ground On Social Media

Suryakumar Yadav is a middle-order batsman. Ajinkya Rahane has made a fabulous comeback in the Test team by smashing a crucial 89-run knock in the WTC final. Hence, Rahane might get more opportunities with his impressive comeback. He is a better player in limited-overs format and selectors might pick him in those games.

Virat Kohli | Rohit Sharma | Rishabh Pant | KL Rahul | Suryakumar Yadav | Sanju Samson | Shreyas Iyer | Yuzvendra Chahal | Jasprit Bumrah