3 Indian Players Who Missed Out In India's T20I Squad

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Gautam Gambhir and Abhishek Sharma [X]Ruturaj Gaikwad, Gautam Gambhir and Abhishek Sharma [X]

The year 2024 will be significant in the history of Indian T20 cricket. India ended a 17-year drought under the leadership of Rohit Sharma by winning the T20 World Cup 2024. Notably, this high also marked the end of an era as Rohit Sharma stepped down from captaincy and retired from the format as a player, following the stalwart Virat Kohli and the experienced all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. 

It is time for India to plan for the next World Cup, which is slated to take place in 2026. In the immediate next assignment after the World Cup, India was sent to Zimbabwe with Shubman Gill leading a new-look squad. The team did well, but with Gautam Gambhir taking up the job of India's head coach, it looks like India is planning for the future with a new leader. Suryakumar Yadav has been selected as the captain, and here is a look at the T20I squad under him for the Sri Lanka tour.

Suryakumar Yadav (C), Ꮪhubman Gill (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohd. Siraj. 

Here are three players who missed out on this T20I squad of India. 


1.Ruturaj Gaikwad

Ruturaj Gaikwad after his first ever T20I centuries [X]Ruturaj Gaikwad after his first ever T20I centuries [X]

The Indian opener has been impressive and consistent at the top of the order for his franchise in the IPL for the past three to four seasons. Ruturaj Gaikwad has translated that form into the international arena whenever he has got an opportunity. In 23 T20I matches so far, Ruturaj has scored 633 runs at an average of 39.56 and a strike rate of 143.53. 

Even in the recently concluded Zimbabwe series, he scored 133 runs in three innings and had an average of 66.50. However, it seems that these performances were not enough to impress the Indian think tank, and he has to put in harder yards to find a regular spot in the squad.


2. Abhishek Sharma

Abhishek Sharma during his T20I Hundred in Zimbabwe [X]Abhishek Sharma during his T20I Hundred in Zimbabwe [X]

The young Indian opener had a couple of great IPL seasons. Abhishek Sharma impressed everyone with his aggressive batting style. He seemingly belongs to the group of ruthless openers who are in great demand. Abhishek was a part of the T20I squad that toured Zimbabwe, and he did not have much problem translating his aggressive style from the domestic to the international arena. 

Sharma scored a scintillating Hundred in the series and became the talk of the town. However, he has been dropped for the Sri Lanka tour, and it seems like the management wants to allow the youngster some time to mature and then have a stint again in the national colours.


3. Mukesh Kumar

Mukesh Kumar has been in a good form with the ball [X]Mukesh Kumar has been in a good form with the ball [X]

The Indian pacer has been in great form, especially in the latest IPL season. The biggest part of Mukesh Kumar's development has been the way he has adapted himself as a death-over specialist. Besides extracting movement with the new ball, Kumar has developed a lethal yorker lately, and that has seen him jump miles ahead as a complete T20 bowler. 

Mukesh was a part of the Zimbabwe tour and did a great job there, picking up eight wickets in just three matches. However, in spite of being in great form, he has been overlooked for the Sri Lanka T20I series.