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5 current Indian cricketers who might not play for the Men in Blue again in T20Is

The shortest format of the game has often had high expectations from the players to deliver under immense pressure. While many world-class players have managed to become a mainstay in the Indian team in the T20Is, there are a few players who were once in the Indian scheme of things in the shortest format but have fallen way low in the pecking order.

Some Indian players have not been able to reach the desired heights in the shortest format. Although they are a regular feature in the IPL for their respective franchises, it is less likely to see them playing for India in the shortest format again. Here are five players who T20I careers are almost done and dusted.

1. Ishant Sharma

Ishant Sharma had burst on to the scene as a 19-year-old in the 2007-08 India’s tour of Australia. Doing well in both white-ball and red-ball cricket, Ishant was a regular feature in Indian cricket. However, in the shortest format, he used to be on the expensive side more often than not.

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In 14 T20Is, Ishant gave away runs at an economy of 8.63 and could pick up only eight wickets. Gradually, he was dropped even from the ODI side. He is now India’s premier bowler in the longest format and continues to lead the Indian bowling attack in red-ball cricket.

2. Ravichandran Ashwin

Under the leadership of MS Dhoni, Ravichandran Ashwin was India’s most-important spinner in all three formats. Excelling under Dhoni at the Chennai Super Kings, Ashwin as a T20 specialist first and then moulded himself into an all-format bowler.

The 34-year-old has played 46 T20Is and has managed to pick up 52 wickets at a very good economy of 6.62. However, after Team India’s failure to win the 2017 Champions Trophy, India decided to drop both Ashwin and Jadeja from white-ball cricket. Although Jadeja managed to make a comeback, Ashwin has not played a white-ball game for India since 2017. It is highly unlikely that we will see him again in a blue jersey, especially with the likes of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal around.

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3. Piyush Chawla

Piyush Chawla was a part of India’s 2011 World Cup-winning team. He was an integral part of India’s white-ball team but then he just seemed to fall from grace.

Piyush Chawla has only represented India in 7 T20Is and has managed to pick up only 4 wickets at an economy of 6.58. He continues to play domestic cricket as well as in the IPL for the Chennai Super Kings. However, it is difficult to see him play for India in T20Is again.

4. Amit Mishra

Veteran Indian leg-spinner Amit Mishra has been in and out of the Indian side across all three formats. He did not get many chances for the Men in Blue but managed to create an impact whenever he got a look-in.

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In 10 T20Is that he played for India, he picked up 16 wickets at a decent economy of 6.31. He was also an integral part of India’s 2014 T20 World Cup run to the final. He still has the desire and fire in him to play for India again. However, he looks to be out of the radar for selection for the Indian team at the moment.

5. Robin Uthappa

Robin Uthappa was one of the young guns during India’s 2007 T20 World Cup campaign who established himself into the Indian white-ball scheme of things. Having played some crucial knocks down the order, Uthappa always loved to take the game to the opposition.

He played 13 T20Is for India and managed to score 249 runs. However, as time passed and new players like Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, etc. took centre stage, Uthappa’s influence began to fade away. He still is playing like an experienced player in the IPL for the Rajasthan Royals. Although he believes he has it in him to represent India again, there is very less possibility of seeing him in the blue jersey again.

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