To get to play in the Indian Cricket Team is one of the toughest jobs in the country. Despite doing fine in the domestic circuit for years together, sometimes, you might not be in a circumstance to wear the blue jersey. However, when you think this from the management’s perspective, they have a point too. There are only eleven places in a squad, and thinking from a long-term view is always the top strategy. Hence, at times, you cannot afford a chance to a few cricketers.
That said, in the current Indian Team, there are a few holes that can get plugged. With important tournaments on the horizon, Team India might want to test a few players in the coming months. In this article, we give you five names whom we think must wear the blue jersey at the earliest.
1. Suryakumar Yadav
Although they seemed to have nailed down a role in the middle-order a few months ago, both Shreyas Iyer and Manish Pandey look somewhat unconvincing at the moment. While their form is one reason, the fact that Suryakumar Yadav is on the waiting list is adding more flesh to the plot. SKY is in terrific form, and in IPL, he showed a wide array of shots and temperament to prove that he is ready for the international level. Unlike Shreyas and Manish, SKY offers more of an X-factor to the unit. Hence, we feel he must make his debut next year.
2. Ishan Kishan
If not for his powerful show in IPL, we might not have had Ishan Kishan on this list. However, at the moment, an India call-up is not far away for the youngster. Kishan can play both at the top and in the middle-order, something that can be useful to the management. He is a left-hander, and this could work well for the team from a tactical perspective. Most importantly, Ishan is a fearless cricketer, and in the current situation, this attribute is very much necessary.
3. Varun CV
If not for the unfortunate injury, Varun CV would have already made his India debut in Australia. However, circumstances mean that the Tamil Nadu man has to wait longer to see his dream. Nevertheless, in the next limited-overs’ tournament, if he is fit, he is a certainty in the squad. In IPL, Varun showed that he has got more to his bowling than just the mystery element. Apart from his action, the former KXIP player impressed with his consistent lines and lengths, and his ability to maintain a low economy rate. With Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav slightly tapering off, Varun CV might be a good inclusion in the team.
4. Kartik Tyagi
While Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami are sure picks, the rest of the bowling unit is still not fixed for the Indian Team. T Natarajan is getting there, and the other spots could be rotated between Deepak Chahar, Navdeep Saini, Shardul Thakur, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Of course, in the five-day games, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, and Mohammed Siraj are in the picture. We feel there is one more slot that can be accommodated in this department. A youngster to groom must be the idea, and Kartik Tyagi is the best possible option. The youngster has potential and must be made ready for future tournaments.
5. Devdutt Padikkal
Shikhar Dhawan is on the wrong side of the thirties, and add to this, Gabbar is not showcasing good consistency. Although there are other options to replace him, Team India would also want to look at a left-hand option. Devdutt Padikkal is the best possibility in this regard. He has shown that he has it in him to go a long way. Devdutt has many attributes to improve, but with more games under his belt, he will only get better. Hence, Team India must give him a chance next year.
