Five Players Whose India Debut Has Been Delayed Due To Lockdown Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

The PM of India Narendra Modi in order to curb the spread of Coronavirus, imposed a 21-day lock-down in India, which could further have implications on the Indian Premier League (IPL). The 13th edition of the cash-rich league was scheduled to be played from 29th March, Sunday.

However, the coronavirus started to spread so alarmingly, that BCCI had no choice but to postpone the IPL until April 15. Now, obviously, public health comes first, and as the pandemic continues to grip India further, it seems unlikely that the lucrative league will see the light of the day.

While this might be a huge disappointment for IPL fans, for the players, it’s a different kind of problem altogether, especially for young players, who were close to making their Team India debut. These cricketers would have been hoping to have a good season under their belt and make a case for the national team.

However, with the fate of the league hanging by a thread, due to coronavirus pandemic, and the lockdown, it will be a body blow for many players if the IPL stands cancelled.

Here are five players whose India debut has been delayed due to the lockdown:

5) Ishan Kishan:

For the past couple of years, Ishan Porel has been doing well in the IPL and he’s become a key player for Jharkhand as well. He’s earned the tag of a Twenty20 specialist slowly but the youngster hasn’t played for the national team as of yet.

The 21-year-old would have been hoping to impress the selectors in the upcoming IPL season although his India debut has surely been delayed now due to the lockdown. Rishabh Pant hasn’t been at his best lately, and therefore, the selectors could have gone for Kishan, but as fate would have it, there’s no update regarding the future of the lucrative league.

In the current scheme of things, Kishan will not be able to break into the senior side before the T20 World Cup, but due to his young age, and immense talent, nothing can be ruled out.

4) Ishan Porel

From one Ishan to the other, from a wicketkeeper-batsman to a pacy bowler, Ishan Porel is the next talent in line, knocking at the doors of the national team. However, with the upcoming IPL season looking under threat, Porel will have to wait to make his India debut due to the lockdown.

He lit up the stage in Ranji Trophy this year and was a key cog in Bengal’s run-to the final. Having joined the ranks of King XI Punjab (KXIP), the 21-year-old would have hoped to take his game to the next level, and stake a claim for the senior team, only it hasn’t happened that way.

However, with his best years ahead of him, Porel will certainly line up for India one day, not just in the upcoming months though.

3) Yashasvi Jaiswal

The breakout star from Indian colts’ runner-up performance at the U19 World Cup in South Africa, Yashasvi Jaiswal joined the Rajasthan Royals (RR) hoping to find a way to the senior team by doing well at the IPL, although the lockdown seems to has come in the way of his India debut.

The 18-year-old scored 400 runs in six matches at the World Cup, with a fantastic average of 133.33, including four fifties and a century at the global spectacle.

Yashasvi broke into the limelight after hitting a double century in the Vijay Hazare trophy. The next step for him will be to break into the senior team, but with no IPL this term, the youngster will have to wait for his chances.

2) Nitish Rana

Nitish Rana has been a revelation in the IPL for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and many would have expected to earn a call-up to the national team. If the upcoming IPL season gets cancelled because of the lockdown, it will be a big blow for Rana, who will have to wait further to make his India debut.

In 46 IPL matches, the 26-year-old has scored 1085 runs with a decent average of 29.32, and he’s picked up seven wickets as well.

The Delhi-born player was on the verge of breaking into the senior team, but the lockdown may have hindered Rana’s hopes of earning his maiden cap at international level.

1) Suryakumar Yadav

That fact that Suryakumar Yadav hasn’t yet made his national debut is quite baffling to say, the least. An attacking batsman who can play the anchor’s role as well, the 29-year-old fully deserves a place in Team India, having done well in the IPL down the years.

Yadav starred at the recently held DY Patil T20 Cup as well, and he’s been one of the consistent performers for Mumbai Indians (MI). For the past twelve months, the right-handed batsman has been doing well, and many expected him to earn a maiden call-up against South Africa, only it didn’t happen.

In the 85 IPL matches that Yadav has played so far, he’s amassed a tally of 1544 runs with an average of 28.07, and he has scored seven fifties as well. The Mumbai born-player will have to wait for his India debut because the lockdown has put the IPL under the cosh.