WI vs IND – 3 Players who may not get a chance to play in the tour

Following an exciting short overs series against England, the action now switches to the West Indies for a three-match ODI series and a five-match T20I series. India just won both the T20I and ODI series in England, thanks to some spectacular performances, and will be riding high on confidence following the series victory.

Shikhar Dhawan is poised to lead the side in the 50-over format, in the absence of the major stars, while regular skipper Rohit Sharma will return for the T20Is. The T20 World Cup 2022 is only a few months away, therefore every opportunity from now on will be critical for the players.

One of the crucial areas that India has addressed is the all-rounder, and Hardik Pandya’s form, coupled with Ravindra Jadeja, is a huge boost to the side. With that considered, here are three Indian players who may not be selected for the India tour to the West Indies.

Number 1. Axar Patel

 

 

Axar Patel’s lengths and lines have been spot on every time he has come on to bowl, but he has not been a consistent part of the playing XI. The left-arm spinner had a solid IPL season and was viewed as Ravindra Jadeja’s backup option. He does contribute some useful runs near the conclusion of innings and is one of the most reliable fielders around.

Axar recently played all three T20Is against South Africa at home and was named to the playing XI for the Ireland tour. He started the first T20I against England but was forced to make way for Jadeja as he returned from his Test duties. The 28-year-old still has a T20I economy rate of 7.17 and will be a strong contender for the T20 World Cup in 2022.

With Jadeja back in the mix for both the ODI and T20I squads for the West Indies tour, Patel may struggle to find a spot in the starting XI.

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Number 2. Shubman Gill

 

 

Shubman Gill last played an ODI against Australia in 2020, and he hasn’t been a regular in the limited-overs system since then. After his recent form in the IPL 2022, the right-hander has been called up to the ODI team in West Indies, but his prospects of making the XI look dismal at the moment.

Gill bats mainly in the top order, and the 22-year-old will have some stiff competition for the spot. Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and skipper Shikhar Dhawan have all lately batted in the position, and Gill is expected to be benched for all three games.

Gill has always had the potential to succeed and is seen as the Indian team’s future. He is yet to be given lengthier opportunities in the limited overs scenario, and he will be eager to perform if he reaches the playing XI. However, unless an injury occurs, head coach Rahul Dravid prefers to stick with his first-choice lineup.

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Number 3. Kuldeep Yadav

 

 

Kuldeep Yadav had a fantastic IPL season this year, and he was recalled to the Indian team for the South Africa T20Is at home. However, an injury forced him to withdraw at the last minute, forcing him to wait for his time again. The Chinese player has been recalled to the T20I squad for the West Indies series.

Despite his rising economy rate, Kuldeep has always been a wicket-taking option. However, he has the power to turn games on their heads and make a significant effect. India, on the other hand, has a plethora of spin options in the T20I team, including Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravi Bishnoi, and Axar Patel.

With so much competition in the team, the 27-year-old will struggle to make the playing XI, having last played a T20I against Sri Lanka at the start of this year.