India's 45-Member Squad Which Can Play A Test Match, An ODI, And A T20I On The Same Day
Updated - 22 May 2021, 09:54 PM
The India National Cricket Team has grown from strength to strength in the last couple of decades. Indian cricket history dates back to the pre-independence era. However, the actual uprise and the domination in world cricket has begun in the 2000s. Although the Men in Blue won the 1983 World Cup trophy, it was in the 2000s that a flurry of Indian players represented the national team and started winnings games on a consistent basis at home and at away venues as well.
Today, the Indian Cricket Team is among the best cricketing nations that there has ever been. It surely reflects when we take a look at the ICC Rankings of the Men in Blue in the last 20 years across formats. With the game becoming challenging day by day, Indian cricket has evolved manifold and one of the reasons behind the uprise in the national cricketing structure has been the variety and versatility of players that have come through the ranks in the last 20 years.
A lot of it boils down to the domestic cricketing structure that has been established in the Indian cricketing circuit. Tournaments such as the Ranji Trophy, the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy have helped the Indian cricketing circuit to fuel players in various formats. Another prominent reason behind India’s versatility has been the Indian Premier League. What started as a franchise T20 cricket tournament has now become one of the grandest tournaments in world cricket and a lot of Indian players have benefitted through the IPL.
The COVID-19 pandemic halt came as a massive blow for cricketing boards across the world. The stagnancy of cricket on the international circuit and the absence of fans from the stadiums have dented all multiple cricket boards financially. To ensure that a smooth circuit keeps on revolving, each cricket board will now be focused on playing more and more games so as to cover the financial losses incurred during the pandemic. More games mean more players and that’s where team India sets itself apart on the world cricket map.
Cricketing legends across the world have acknowledged and appreciated the amount and quality of players that India has produced to represent the national side, irrespective of the stage. A fine example of India’s sea of quality cricketers was the Australian tour in 2020 when the Indians beat the mighty Australians in the four-match Test series without their first-grade team. The triumph in Australia asserted that the Indian cricket structure is second to none in world cricket and that a pool of almost 50-60 players is ready to take on any side.
Another example of India’s depth will now be seen when a second-string Indian team will travel to Sri Lanka in July for a 3-match ODI and a 3-match T20I series. The first team will be traveling to the United Kingdom in June for the ICC World Test Championship final and will remain there until September as they will prepare for a five-match Test series against England which will begin on August 04. Thus, a second-string Indian team will travel to the Sri Lankan island for the limited-overs tour.
Now that team India is confident of fielding different sides across multiple formats on a single matchday, we take a look at the 45 Indian players who can represent the Men in Blue in a Test match, an ODI, and a T20I on the same very day. In this story, we present a 15-member squad for each format that can beat any side in the world.
India’s 45-Member Squad Which Can Play A Test Match, A One Day International, And A T20 International On The Same Day
Team India’s Test Squad
Virat Kohli (c)
Indian skipper Virat Kohli has been leading the side across all formats for over more than 3 years now. He ascended the Test captaincy in 2014 and then took over as the Indian limited-overs skipper in 2017. Although during his reign, the Men in Blue have failed to win an ICC Trophy, Virat’s contribution to India’s Test cricket is exemplary.
For the last five years, team India have held the ICC Test mace which is handed over to the number 1 team in the ICC Test Rankings on an annual basis. This just goes on to show Virat’s success as a leader in the longest format. Under his captaincy, the Indian Cricket Team has reached the ICC World Test Championship final and will battle it out against New Zealand from June 18-June 22 in England.
Ajinkya Rahane (vc)
Ajinkya Rahane has been another pillar in India’s uprise in Test cricket over the last 5 years. Rahane has been perfectly assisting the skipper Virat Kohli and has molded his game over the years as a Test specialist. His leadership skills are second to none and a prime example of it was portrayed in Australia earlier this year when he led the Indian team in absence of Virat Kohli in the last three games of the 4-match series.
Out of the three games that he led team India in, the national side won 2 games and drew a game. Eventually, the subcontinent giant went on to win the series. What made the win even more special was the bunch of the players that played for the team in absence of the senior players. Rahane’s captaincy in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2021 will go down in the Indian cricket history books.
Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma’s hunger to establish himself as a Test batsman can be looked up to by a generation of cricketers. Initially considered as a limited-overs specialist, Rohit has asserted his authority as a Test specialist in the last couple of years and his consistency has been immaculate.
Ever since he has begun his journey in Test cricket, Rohit has gone on to play 36 Test matches and scored 2615 runs at an average of 46.69. What is staggering is his record in home conditions. Rohit Sharma has played 27 Test innings in India and scored 1670 runs at an average of 79.52 with 7 centuries and 6 half-centuries.
Cheteshwar Pujara
The modern wall of Indian cricket, Cheteshwar Pujara, has emerged as a true prodigal cricketing son of the former wall of Indian cricket, Rahul Dravid. If there has been any batsman that has the potential to frustrate world-class bowlers, Pujara is right on top of that list. Another pioneer of Indian Test cricket, Pujara will certainly make it into India’s Test squad.
Pujara’s Test stats boast of 142 innings wherein he has scored 6244 runs at an average of 46.59. In the process, he has smashed 18 centuries and 9 half-centuries. The 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar trophy was one of the greatest examples of how crucial Pujara is to India’s Test setup.
Shubman Gill
The newest addition to the Indian Test squad, Shubman Gill, is a player for the future. He first came to the limelight when he won the ICC Under 19 World Cup in 2018 and the young lad has never looked back since then. He was the silver lining when India traveled to New Zealand in 2020 as he smashed a marvelous double hundred in the daunting Kiwi conditions playing for India A.
His performance in the domestic circuit earned him a spot in the Indian Test team for the Australian tour and he made sure he didn’t disappoint. Shubman Gill was the fourth-highest run-scorer for team India in the Border-Gavaskar trophy 2020-21 with figures of 259 runs in 6 innings at an average of 51.80 and a couple of half-centuries.
Mayank Agarwal
Mayank Agarwal, another prodigious batsman from Karnataka, showed his true might when team India traveled to Australia for the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar trophy. His uprise as a Test batsman just moved forward from thereon. One of the most gifted batsmen in terms of skill, Mayank is yet to prove his temperament at the international level.
Recently, he had a poor tour of Australia. However, his figures in Test cricket are exemplary as the young batsman has gone on to score 1052 runs in just 23 innings in his Test career so far at an average of 45.73.
Rishabh Pant (wk)
If there is a batsman in world cricket who can reverse lap James Anderson close to his 100, it has to be Rishabh Pant. Courage, talent, and hunger have been the defining character traits of Rishabh Pant and he just looks to take his skill to the next level with each game passing by.
Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja has emerged as the definition of a 3-dimension cricketer in world cricket in the last couple of years. From being termed as a bits-and-pieces cricketer to leaving the opposition in bits-and-pieces, Jadeja has come a long way in his journey. The improvisation in his batting is there for the world to see.
Ravindra Jadeja is the immaculate picture of the perfect all-rounder in modern-day cricket. His strength reflects even more at home games when he finishes the middle-overs in the blink of an eye. His contribution on the field is what makes him an indispensable asset for team India.
Ravichandran Ashwin
If anyone has any doubt as to why Ravichandran Ashwin is an important member of the Indian Test setup, just watch the highlight reel of his batting on the final day of the Sydney Test in the Border-Gavaskar trophy 2020-21. That’s what sets apart Ravichandran Ashwin from the rest. His composure and calculation of the game are what make him such a legend of the game.
An area that he improvised in the last few years is picking up wickets at away venues and this year’s tour of Australia was one such classic example of it. He takes a lot of pride in his batting and it was clearly visible when he scored that scintillating century against England in Chennai in the recently concluded series. Having picked more than 400 Test wickets, Ravichandran Ashwin is already on his way to greatness.
Axar Patel
Another Indian spin all-rounder Axar Patel, showed his true prowess when he made his debut for team India in the Test series against England at home. His magical spells in his hometown, Ahmedabad, spun a web around the English batsmen who had no answers to Axar’s deliveries that just skid off the pitch and took everyone by surprise.
Although Axar got a break in the Indian cricket team very late but, now he is making the wait look worthwhile. Ending the four-match Test series with 27 wickets in just 6 innings that Patel might lead the way for team India in the years to come, especially in home conditions.
Jasprit Bumrah
If you would have said that the Indians will be leading the world pace attack 10 years ago, people would have laughed at your face. However, it has now become a reality under Virat’s leadership that the Indian pace attack has become the deadliest pace attack in world cricket at the moment. Indian and overseas cricketers, past and present, have acknowledged that this is the best Indian pace attack in its history.
Leading this pace attack is Jasprit Bumrah. The unconventional pacer who hails from Gujarat has now become a national hero and a pain for the opposition batsmen ever since his uprise in the international circuit. Just 27 years old, Jasprit Bumrah has already achieved milestones in his professional career that aspirants can only think of. In just 37 innings, he has 83 wickets to his name in Test cricket. He is surely going to be among the leading wicket-takers when he bids goodbye to his professional cricketing career.
Ishant Sharma
Ishant Sharma is truly among the undermined cricketers in the history of Indian cricket. There should not be any two ways in acknowledging the fact that Ishant has already made his entry into the legendary club of Indian cricketers. Having played more than 100 Test matches, Ishant Sharma has scalped more than 300 Test wickets in his career so far.
What makes it extra special is his resurgence in Test cricket. Be it delivering long, untiring spells or being the go-to bowler for the skipper when he needs a wicket, Ishant has stepped up and grabbed the opportunity with both hands. His height could have been a massive hindrance in his fitness but maintaining consistency to play 100 Test matches goes on to show his determination for the sport.
Mohammed Shami
Shami is yet to go miles ahead in his international cricketing career and he will surely be one of India’s key pacers, especially in the Test format. Until now, the pace express has played in 95 innings for team India in the longest format and picked 180 wickets already. He truly has the potential to become India’s leading wicket-taker by a fast bowler if he maintains his fitness.
Mohammed Siraj
Another gift from the Border-Gavaskar trophy 2020-21 was Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj. The young pacer stepped up and took responsibility when the Indian bowlers were dealing with injuries and bruises during the Australian tour. He finished the series as India’s leading wicket-taker and his first-innings spell at the Gabba will go down as one of the finest spells by an Indian bowler at the venue.
Also Read: VVS Laxman Explains What Makes Mohammed Siraj A Special Bowler
Having bowled in just 10 Test innings so far, Mohammed Siraj has already picked 16 wickets. What sets him apart is his commitment to the team. Having lost his father while he was in Australia, Siraj had the option to return back but he insisted on staying with the team and this just goes on to show his love for the nation and his determination to do well in challenging conditions.
Jaydev Unadkat
A lot of people will disagree with the choice of Jaydev Unadkat being a part of the Indian test setup. However, his performances in the last couple of years in the Indian domestic circuit suggest otherwise. One of the most improved bowlers in the Indian cricketing circuit, Jaydev Unadkat was the highest wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy 2020.
Unadkat also broke the record of picking the most wickets in a single season of Ranji Trophy in 2020. Although his Test debut didn’t go as he would have liked it, Unadkat has fought back and is already a prized bowler in the Indian first-class circuit. Unadkat has picked 251 wickets in 130 innings so far in his first-class career and a call-up from the Indian team could just be on his door in the coming days.
Team India’s ODI Squad
Shikhar Dhawan (c)
Such has been the aura of the Gabbar of Indian cricket that he appears to be the senior-most player of the ODI squad if the A-listers are absent and thus, the veteran can also be the captain of the side. In 139 ODI innings, Shikhar Dhawan has scored close to 6000 runs for the Indian Cricket Team and although he is in yesteryears, Dhawan is one of the best in the business.
Prithvi Shaw
Prithvi Shaw, the once in a generation of cricketers, is on his way to greatness at a very young age. Having led team India to the ICC Under 19 World Cup glory in 2018, Shaw has already made a mark on the world cricket map at just 21 years old. After having a horrendous outing in Australia, Shaw came up with blistering knocks in the Vijay Hazare Trophy this year.
Prithvi Shaw broke the record of the highest run-scorer this year in a single edition of the Vijay Hazare trophy as he smashed 827 runs in 8 innings with a jaw-dropping average of above 100. In IPL 2021, he continued from where he left off in the Vijay Hazare trophy and smashed Shivam Mavi for six 4s in an over in a match against Kolkata Knight Riders. It will not be wrong to say that Shaw could well be the next big thing in Indian cricket.
Suryakumar Yadav
When a legend of the game like Gautam Gambhir regrets not justifying the talent of the player, it just goes on to show the class of the star. Suryakumar Yadav is the one who makes Gambhir feel regretful for not utilizing him up to his complete potential. However, Suryakumar Yadav has now stamped his place in the Indian limited-overs side with his consistent runs in the IPL and in the Indian domestic circuit.
Yadav’s fearlessness and his skill of playing against spin are to look for. Cricketers all around the world have acknowledged his special ability and his stats have always backed the praise that he has received. Although he is yet to make his ODI debut for team India, it can surely be a possibility in the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka.
Shreyas Iyer (vc)
Touted as the future captain of the Indian Cricket Team, Shreyas Iyer has grown as a batsman manifold in the last couple of years. His form in the away tours of New Zealand and Australia in 2020 has now made him a permanent member of the Indian ODI side. Over the years, he has also matured in his batting style.
A perfect portrayal of it came against England in the recently-concluded T20I series. Iyer has a wide range and the power needed to clear the fence in limited-overs cricket. But what sets him apart from the rest is his temperament to play the situation. In the 20 innings he has played for India in ODI cricket, Iyer has scored 813 runs at an average of above 40. Being just 26 years old, Iyer has a decade of cricket left in him.
KL Rahul (wk)
KL Rahul has been the synonym of consistency in the Indian cricketing circuit in the last year or so. In 2020, he was the highest run-scorer for team India, breaking the jinx of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shikhar Dhawan. He continued his great form in IPL 2020 and won the Orange Cap in the last edition.
This season in the IPL was no different for the Karnataka skipper as he was just second on the list in terms of the highest-run scorers in the IPL when the tournament came to a standstill. Rahul has shown a lot of promise in his batting in the last year and his 1509 runs in just 37 ODI innings at an average of 48.67 justify the potential he has got.
Manish Pandey
Manish Pandey is yet another batsman who has been out of favor from the Indian team in the last year or so due to the rising competition in the side, especially in the middle-order. Manish Pandey would have surely turned some heads around with his performances in IPL 2021 and his stats also suggest that he could be a very great player for team India if shown perseverance.
In the 21 ODI innings he has played so far for the Men in Blue, Manish has gone on to score 492 runs at an average of 35.14. He also has a century to his name and a couple of half-centuries as well for the Indian Cricket Team in the format. Manish can be a true asset in the second-string Indian ODI squad.
Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya is among one of the most hard-hitting allrounders in the modern-day swashbuckling game of cricket. His contribution with both, the bat and the ball, is what makes him a special player for the country. His career has been marred with injuries but when he is at his prime, the world has seen how destructive he can be.
Carrying the tag of a game-changer, Hardik will have to maintain his fitness and he can be a regular face in the limited-overs side for the Men in Blue. Hardik has smashed 7 half-centuries in the 44 ODI innings he has played so far for the Indian Cricket Team.
Krunal Pandya
Hardik’s elder brother Krunal has had to wait for a longer time to make it into the Indian Cricket Team. However, his performances in the last couple of seasons in the Indian domestic circuit have established that he could be an ideal all-rounder for team India in the years to follow.
An instant impact of his performance was seen in the ODI series against England this year when he made his ODI debut and smashed a scintillating half-century. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy this year, he was among the list of the highest run-scorers and it is a remarkable achievement considering his batting position.
Rishi Dhawan
Having already made his debut for the Men in Blue, Rishi Dhawan didn’t have a very spectacular run in the international cricketing circuit. In the 2 innings that he batted, he could only score 12 runs in ODI cricket. He could only pick a single wicket in the 3 innings that he bowled in his ODI career.
However, Rishi Dhawan made a scintillating comeback in the Indian domestic circuit this year. He was among the best all-rounders in the Vijay Hazare Trophy as he kept scoring runs on a consistent basis and picked wickets at regular intervals for his state team, Himachal. With injuries pounding Hardik Pandya, Rishi Dhawan could be a good fast-bowling all-rounder option for a second-string Indian team.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
The biggest surprise when the BCCI announced the Indian squad for the ICC World Test Championship final and the Test series against England, was the exclusion of Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Bhuvneshwaar has been one of India’s prime fast bowlers and he could have surely made it into any three of the Indian squads but he is chosen in this squad because of his impact in ODI cricket.
The veteran Indian pacer made a mark for himself right in his debut game against Pakistan in 2012 as he ended with 3 wickets in his maiden ODI for India. Since then, Bhuvi hasn’t looked back in his career and has gone on to be India’s premier fast bowler in the last decade. In the 116 ODI innings, he has already picked 138 scalps and is among one of the most important players for team India in the first powerplay.
T Natarajan
T Natarajan was the find of Indian cricket in IPL 2020. After having had an exceptional outing for the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) franchise in IPL 2020, Natarajan was immediately selected in the Indian team as a net bowler for the Australian tour. However, luck was kind on him as he got to make his debut in all three formats for team India in Australia.
After returning from Australia, his bowling has been marred with injuries. But there is absolutely no denying the fact that Natarajan’s toe-crushing yorkers in the death overs make him an exceptional talent. In the 2 ODI innings so far, Natarajan has already picked 3 wickets and could be a worthy addition to the Indian limited-overs squad in the years to follow.
Kuldeep Yadav
A one of a kind spinner from Uttar Pradesh, Kuldeep Yadav rose through the ranks of national cricket in a flash. The Chinaman formed a great partnership alongside Yuzvendra Chahal and has picked wickets on a consistent basis for the Men in Blue in the middle-overs. He has already picked 105 wickets in his limited ODI career of 61 innings which also include a couple of hat-tricks.
Also Read: Yuzvendra Chahal Explains Why His Combination With Kuldeep Yadav Has Become Rare
Over the last year, there has been a sharp decline in Kuldeep Yadav’s form. This has been the reason behind him spending most of his time warming the bench for the national cricket team. Once touted to be the best Indian spinner by the Head Coach himself, there is no doubt about Kuldeep’s talent. If he finds his rhythm one again, he can be a lethal weapon for the Men in Blue in the limited-overs format.
Prasidh Krishna
He made an instant impact in the series as he was able to pick 6 wickets in the 3 innings that he played against England. He also smashed the record of the best bowling figures by an Indian bowler in the debut ODI match as he ended the game with figures of 4/54 in just 8.1 overs.
Shardul Thakur
Shardul Thakur is another fiery Indian cricketer who is always up for the task. A pure reflection of his talent was seen in the ODI and T20I series against England this year when he became the go-to bowler for skipper Virat Kohli whenever he needed a wicket in the middle-overs. Shardul Thakur never disappointed the skipper and ended as the highest wicket-taker for the Men in Blue.
His havoc with the bat against New Zealand away from home in 2020 is what makes him a special talent. In the 15 ODI innings so far, Shardul already has 22 wickets to his name. He has also smashed 107 runs in 8 ODI innings with a strike rate of above 140.
Arzan Nagwaswalla
Arzan Nagwaswalla has been the center of all the limelight ever since his name appeared in the national squad that was chosen to take on New Zealand in the ICC World Test Championship final and the five-match Test series against England. However, he has been putting the hard yards in the domestic circuit for the last couple of years.
He was the second-highest wicket-taker in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2020-21, finishing the season with 19 wickets in just 7 innings. He was also among the leading wicket-takers during the 2019-20 season when he finished with 17 wickets in 9 innings. Nagwaswalla is another left-arm pacer in the national cricketing circuit who can be extremely successful in the international circuit in the coming years.
Team India’s T20I Squad:
Devdutt Padikkal
One of the most dominant Indian batsmen in the IPL over the last couple of seasons, Devdutt Padikkal is a star in the making for the Indian Cricket Team. Padikkal broke onto the scene with his fine performances in IPL 2020 for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) as he ended the season being their highest run-scorer.
He carried on the form in this year’s Vijay Hazare trophy as he was the second-highest run-scorer after Prithvi Shaw. Padikkal finished the Vijay Hazare season with 737 runs in the 7 innings at an average of close to 150 in the tournament. IPL 2021 was a bit sluggish for him initially but he found his rhythm once again as he smashed a scintillating century against Rajasthan Royals.
Ruturaj Gaikwad
Ruturaj Gaikwad, the 24-years old right-hander from Maharashtra, has upsurged as one of the most gifted batsmen in the IPL over the last couple of seasons. Although he didn’t look to be a promising talent at first, but his performances in the last three games for CSK in IPL 2020 guaranteed him a spot in the CSK first XI in IPL 2021.
His IPL 2021 journey began nothing different than IPL 2020 but once he found his form, he accelerated quickly. His knock against SunRiers Hyderabad in IPL 2021 was one of the finest showpieces to portray how to neutralize Rashid Khan, the number 1 T20I bowler in the world.
Ishan Kishan (c&wk)
Ishan Kishan is another wicketkeeper-batsman from Jharkhand who can make it big in Indian cricket much like his predecessor, MS Dhoni. Hailing from a state that hasn’t been able to produce match-winners for the country on a regular basis, Ishan made it big with his stint in the domestic cricketing circuit.
That’s why Mumbai Indians left no stone unturned to grab hands on the young wicketkeeper-batsman. He finished IPL 2020 as Mumbai Indians’ leading run-scorer and smashed a breath-taking half-century against England in his T20I debut for the Men in Blue.
Ambati Rayudu (vc)
Ambati Rayudu belongs to that unlucky breed of Indian cricketers whose exclusion from the national team can never be justified. Rayudu was always in plans of the BCCI for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 and his axing from the side made him quit international cricket. However, he mentioned in 2019 that he would be willing to come out of retirement if the BCCI could consider him for the national team.
Rayudu has not shown signs of slowing down and his bat has done the talking even after retiring from international cricket. In the IPL, he has been among the runs on a consistent basis and he played another breath-taking knock in IPL 2021 against Mumbai Indians (MI) when he manhandled a bowler like Jasprit Bumrah. If the BCCI and Rayudu can come on some equal ground, he can be a real asset for the Men in Blue.
Rahul Tewatia
Another sturdy all-rounder from Haryana, Rahul Tewatia, could well be a good fit in the national team, especially in the T20Is. He rose to fame in IPL 2020 while plying his trade for Rajasthan Royals when he smashed Punjab Kings’ bowlers, Sheldon Cottrell for 30 runs in an over, smashing five 6s in the over.
His regular contributions for his franchise in IPL 2020 earned him a maiden national call-up in the T20I series against England. Although he did not get the opportunity to feature in a single game, he could be an asset for the Men in Blue if the A-listers are absent from the side.
Washington Sundar
Washington Sundar has been one of the biggest gifts for the subcontinent giants in the last couple of years. Not only in the T20Is, but his Test debut against Australia also showed what an immaculate talent he is. Contributions with the bat and the ball have been inspiring from this young cricketer and his economic spells in the powerplay are what makes him a threat to any opposition.
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So far in the 30 innings in T20I cricket, Sundar has already picked 25 wickets. His batting stats do not really reflect the amount of potential that this young talent has and he will surely be a part of the national T20 side in the years to follow.
Harshal Patel
The cricketing world saw the prowess of Gujarat’s all-rounder Harshal Patel, who came up with brilliant performances in IPL 2021 for Royal Challengers Bangalore this season. Harshal made an instant impact in the opening fixture of IPL 2021 as he picked a five-wicket haul against Mumbai Indians and became the first bowler to do so.
He showed no signs of slowing down after the first game and kept picking up wickets at regular intervals and was the Purple Cap holder of IPL 2021 with 17 wickets in 7 innings when the tournament came to a halt. In the 53 IPL innings so far, Harhsal has clinched 63 scalps and if he is groomed in the right direction, he can be a worthy asset for the Men in Blue.
Deepak Chahar
When it comes to the current best Indian swing bowlers, Deepak Chahar’s name will surely be on that list. Chahar made his debut for the national team in 2019 and has been one of the finest talents across. He holds the record for the best bowling figures in all T20Is, 6 for 7 against Bangladesh in 2019-20.
His domestic cricketing career has not been timid either. Hailing from Rajasthan, the 28-year old, has played 103 T20 games wherein, he has picked 120 wickets. His sensational form continued in IPL 2021 when he grabbed a couple of four0wicket hauls for CSK this year.
Rahul Chahar
Deepak Chahar’s cousin, Rahul Chahar, has also climbed up the professional cricketing ladder slowly and steadily. Contrary to his brother, Rahul Chahar has emerged as a spin wizard and he rose to fame with his performances for Mumbai Indians in the IPL. He was the highest wicket-taker for Mumbai in IPL 2020, finishing his tally with 15 wickets in 15 innings.
His blitzkrieg performance in IPL 2020 earned him a maiden national call-up for the England T20I series. He was the game-changer for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2021 as he had already picked 11 wickets in the 7 innings that he played when the tournament came to a standstill. If Rahul Chahar carries on in the same manner, he can be a lethal weapon for the Men in Blue at home in T20I cricket.
Yuzvendra Chahal
Yuzvendra Chahal has been India’s leading spinner in the T20 format in the last 3-4 years. Chahal has now had a lot of experience of world cricket on the international stage after having represented the Men in Blue against every other team in the world. The leggie is never too shy to leak runs as he acknowledges his skill to pick up wickets at regular intervals.
Risk-taking has been one of his biggest strengths in T20 cricket and that has been the reason behind him denting oppositions on numerous occasions. The leggie has played 48 innings in T20I cricket so far and picked up 63 wickets with a five-wicket haul to his name. He is also the fastest Indian bowler to have clinched 50 wickets in T20Is, having scaled the feat in just 34 matches.
Avesh Khan
Not many bowlers in world cricket can claim to have got the wickets of both, Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni in their entire career. And then there is Avesh Khan, the bowler who got them both in IPL 2021. If there has to be a revelation from IPL 2021 for the Indian pace attack, it has to be Avesh Khan.
The young pacer has turned all the eyes towards him with his miraculous performances in IPL 2021. Avesh Khan picked up 14 wickets in just 8 innings and was among the front runners for the Purple Cap this season when the tournament came to a halt. Consequently, he was picked for the National Cricket Team that will be traveling to the UK for the WTC final and the Test series against England.
Riyan Parag
Riyan Parag, the young all-rounder from Assam, was a crucial member of the national team that won the ICC Under 19 World Cup in 2018. Parag proved his mantle in red-ball cricket as well when he smashed 3 half-centuries against the Englishmen in a two-match Test series. In IPL 2019 auction, Riyan Parag was picked by Rajasthan Royals and he became the youngest player to score a half-century in the history of IPL in IPL 2019.
Parag has since then been a regular member of the RR setup. His unorthodox bowling style can be really troublesome for the opposition to read and his contribution on the field has been there for everyone to see. Still very young, Riyan Parag can be the perfect three-dimensional player for the Men in Blue in the years to follow.
Sanju Samson
Kerala’s flamboyant batsman, Sanju Samson has had a very topsy-turvy ride with the national team. The reason behind this has been his inconsistency at the international level. Despite scoring big in the domestic circuit year after year, Samson fails to make it big when it comes to the international stage.
However, his prowess with the bat can’t be ignored and hence he can be a very crucial member of the Indian team in the T20 format. Having scored more than 4000 runs in the T20I format, Samson possesses a lot of experience and this has been one of the main reasons behind Rajasthan handing him the captaincy of the franchise in IPL 2021 ahead of Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes.
Varun Chakravarthy
Varun Chakravarthy, the mystery spinner from Tamil Nadu has become one of the hottest properties in the market in the last couple of seasons. Having left a high-profile architecture job, Varun embarked on his journey in professional cricket as a wicketkeeper before actually turning to a mystery spinner and being compared to the likes of Ajantha Mendis.
Varun rose to fame through the Tamil Nadu Premier League where his discipline and economical bowling made him a star. Last season in the IPL, he was the most successful bowler for the Kolkata Knight Riders, picking up 17 wickets, including the wicket of MS Dhoni, twice in the same season. If Varun works on his fitness, he can be a valuable asset for the national team.
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