Despite the suspension of the most recent edition of the Indian Premier League, it has carved a way for many capped and uncapped Indian talents to book their spot in India’s squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2021. Their consistent performances in IPL 2021 might get them to the grandest T20 stage in the world. So let’s list five such Indian players who might have booked their place in WT20 after IPL 2021 performance.
5 Players who might have booked their place in WT20 after IPL 2021 performance:
#1 Shikhar Dhawan:
Shikhar Dhawan used to be one of the permanent openers for India in the T20s, but a series of failures and the rise of KL Rahul sidelined him a bit. But since IPL 2020, he has been a consistent performer in white-ball cricket. Moreover, his possession of the Orange Cap at the time of IPL 2021’s suspension has cemented Dhawan’s place in the T20I squad of India.
Dhawan has consistently provided quick starts to Delhi Capitals with Prithvi Shaw in IPL 2021. Not just that, he has also helped DC in a few run chases by stacking runs for more than 15 overs in a game. Dhawan stands as the top scorer of the halted IPL 2021 with 380 runs from eight matches. He has accumulated these runs at an average of 54.28 and a strike rate of 134.27. His numbers in IPL 2020 were astonishing too. So it is safe to say that Dhawan will be a part of India’s WT20 Squad.
#2 Avesh Khan:
An ideal T20 bowler not only takes wickets in the powerplay but also restricts the batters at death. And Avesh Khan has done ticked both of these areas in IPL 2021. He was the third-highest wicket-taker in the tournament when it got suspended.
Avesh had scalped 14 wickets from eight matches at a bowling average of 16.5 in IPL 2021. Not just that, he also troubled batters at death, making them work for their runs. Avesh bowled with an economy of just 7.7. These stats of his answer for themselves as to why Avesh might have booked a spot in India’s squad for the ICC T20 World Cup.
#3 Rahul Chahar:
Rahul Chahar is the only Indian spinner in the top 16 wicket-takers of IPL 2021 as of now. The only other spinner among the top 16 is Rashid Khan. Rahul stands 4th in this list of highest wicket-takers with 11 wickets from seven matches leading Rashid by one. He has bowled with a bowling average of 18.36 and an economy of 7.21 in these seven matches.
Since Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav haven’t performed in a long while, that opens up opportunities for spinners in India’s T20I and ODI squad. And Rahul Chahar is probably the best limited-overs wrist spinner in the entire country at the moment. So there is a possibility that we might see him in the blue stripes during the T20 World Cup.
#4 Mohammed Siraj:
Mohammed Siraj‘s evolution as a test bowler was visible in India’s last two test series. But with his performance in IPL 2021, he has proved that he has molded himself into an all-format bowler. Siraj has displayed exceptional accuracy in IPL 2021. Where other bowlers struggle to deliver even a single wide yorker, he accurately nailed four consecutive wide yorkers against Andre Russell.
Not just death overs, Mohammed Siraj also excelled in bowling in powerplays. He became one of the few bowlers to bowl a maiden 1st over with his consistent hard lengths against Wriddhiman Saha. His rise in test cricket and his exceptional bowling in IPL might get him a place in India’s WT20 squad as well.
#5 Suryakumar Yadav:
Suryakumar Yadav had already made his T20I debut for India before IPL 2021, but his performance in this tournament might cement his place in India’s T20 World Cup side. SKY scored the second-most runs for Mumbai Indians after Rohit Sharma before IPL 2021’s suspension.
SKY was the only top-order batter to contribute enough for MI in their Chennai leg. He maintained a strike rate of 144.16 throughout the seven matches that he played. This ability to score quickly in the middle-overs is exactly what is required by the Indian T20I team. So we can’t be surprised if he makes it to India’s squad for ICC T20 World Cup 2021.
