Hardik Pandya Dropped And...? 3 Likely Bold Selection Decisions For England T20Is

Anurag Dasgupta

Hardik to be dropped from T20Is [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/X.Com] Hardik to be dropped from T20Is [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/X.Com]

The current topic in the cricketing world is the Champions Trophy and the India Vs England ODI series. However, prior to that, there is also a T20I series between the same oppositions as both the teams will lock horns in the game's shortest format.

The India squad for the same will be announced on Sunday, January 12 and there are speculations that quite a few big names might miss out on a place in the Indian T20I side. The core is expected to stay the same, but expect India to go in with fresh faces and the members of the ODI squad are unlikely to take part in the T20Is.

Here are 3 shocking selection decisions which the selectors are likely to take when they announce the team on Sunday.

3) No Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy to play

Hardik Pandya is a guaranteed started in the Indian ODI squad and will most likely feature in the ODIs Vs England. With the Champions Trophy coming up, there is no need for the selectors to include him in the T20I team and instead, the Ajit Agarkar led panel could go in with Nitish Kumar Reddy in the side.

With Hardik preparing for the Champions Trophy, Nitish Kumar can be the fast bowling all-rounder and the player is also under tremendous confidence after a successful BGT.

2) Axar Patel omitted from T20Is

There are reports that Ravindra Jadeja will not be selected in the Champions Trophy squad, and if the rumours come true, India need a like-to-like replacement and there is no better option than Axar Patel.

He is a better batter than Jadeja in white-ball cricket and has improved on his bowling as well. Hence, the board will want their premium spinner to focus on the ODIs, instead of T20I cricket.

1) Arshdeep removed as pacer set for Champions Trophy berth

India are sweating hard on the fitness of injured Jasprit Bumrah and with Mohammad Shami also out, the team is lacking a quality pace bowler. The selectors are closely monitoring Arshdeep Singh and after a successful career in T20Is, the management wants him to deliver the same in the ODIs.

With the Champions Trophy in mind, he might be selected in the England ODIs, and thus could be rested from the T20I series.