India is preparing to face Sri Lanka in a white-ball series that will begin with T20Is on Tuesday, January 3. In the absence of Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya will head the side, with Suryakumar Yadav functioning as his deputy.
India has named a roster of 16 players for the three-match T20I series. Each member of the squad has shown their ability on the cricket field and has the potential to excel against the Asia Cup winners. However, it is not certain that the team management will be able to offer every player in the squad an opportunity, and some of the cricketers may not even receive a single game.
Here are three players that might be rested during the T20I series against Sri Lanka.
Number 1. Shivam Mavi
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In the Indian home circuit, Shivam Mavi has been a reliable name. He has 59 wickets in 36 List-A matches at an economy rate of 4.85. The Noida native has performed well in the Indian Premier League, capturing 30 wickets in 32 games with an economy of 8.71.
Mavi has been in excellent form recently. He created havoc with the ball in the just completed Vijay Hazare Trophy 2022, taking 14 wickets in seven games at an economy of 4.15. Because of his outstanding performances, the ace bowler has earned his first international call-up for the forthcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka.
The Uttar Pradesh pacer’s prospects of reaching the playing XI are slim since India also has Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, and Umran Malik. Given their international experience, these players will almost probably be further up the pecking order.
If there are any injury worries, the team management may consider including Mukesh Kumar in the starting lineup. The Bengal pacer was included to India’s team for a three-match ODI series against South Africa ahead of the T20 World Cup 2022, but he did not play. As a result, Mukesh may get the nod over Mavi in the next T20I series.
Number 2. Ruturaj Gaikwad
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Ruturaj Gaikwad is a run-banker on the Indian domestic circuit. The All-Star hitter has appeared in 72 List-A games and scored 4034 runs with a strike rate of 101.05. He was also outstanding in the Indian Premier League, scoring 1207 runs in 36 games with a strike rate of 130.35.
However, the 25-year-old has not achieved the same worldwide success. In nine appearances for India in the shortest format, he scored just 135 runs with a strike rate of 123.85. However, the Pune native dominated the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2022, scoring 660 runs in five matches with a strike rate of 113.59. Based on his impressive performances, Gaikwad has been recalled to the Indian squad and will play in the T20I against Dasun Shanka and co.
Ishan Kishan, on the other hand, has been India’s go-to guy for the starting berth. And since Shubman Gill has performed well for the Men in Blue, scoring 687 runs in 15 One-Day Internationals, the think tank may consider him to accompany Kishan at the top. As a result, Gaikwad may not play in the whole T20I series.
Number 3. Rahul Tripathi
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Rahul Tripathi’s incredible heroics lit up the 15th season of the IPL. The 31-year-old batted in 14 matches, scoring 413 runs at an astounding strike rate of 158.24. Tripathi was as outstanding with the bat in the 14th edition, scoring 397 runs in 17 matches at a strike rate of 140.28.
He received an international call-up for the T20I series against Ireland as a result of his outstanding performances. However, the Maharashtra hitter did not make the playing XI. He also played in the ODI series against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh but did not have a chance to play.
The Indian management has named him for the next T20I series against the Lankan Lions, but he may have to warm the bench again since India’s top order comprises of Ishan, Shubman, and Suryakumar.
