Well, after the debacle of the 2021 T20 World Cup, a new dawn has emerged in Indian cricket. The buoyant era of coach Ravi Shastri and captain Virat Kohli has finally concluded and a new team of successors has come on board. Perhaps to further surge up the stature of Indian cricket, a new robust leadership group has been established to clinch the upcoming three ICC events.

However, in that process, some players, who are standing on thin ice, are expected to get effaced from the system someday or the other. Like a lot of precision, prudence and transparency are being expected from the new team management, a flush out of ineffective players looks to be right on the cards.

Hence in this list, let’s check out 5 Indian players for whom the New Zealand series could be the last chance to prove their worth

1. Bhuvneshwar Kumar

<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-500065 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Bhuvneshwar-Kumar-2.jpg" alt="Bhuvneshwar Kumar" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-500065" class="wp-caption-text">Bhuvneshwar Kumar. (Photo by Surjeet Yadav/Getty Images)</figcaption>

Unfortunately, for Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the year 2021 hasn’t been fruitful. Again the cricketer during the first half of 2021 was badly injured which in many ways has raised immense question marks on his fitness. Perhaps such a chronic fitness breakdown that has nearly eaten all his prime is now all set to cost Bhuvi his India cap.

In terms of his recent limited-overs performances, it looks like the 31-year old has completely lost his white-ball zeal. In IPL 2021, the ace pacer of SRH could only manage to pick mere 6 wickets from his 11 games that too at his highest ever IPL economy rate. Even the malfunction in the 2021 T20 World Cup has added to Bhuvi’s midlife cricket crisis.

However, a set of failures in the upcoming home series against NZ can become one of the last nails in the coffin. As the selectors now have a colossal pool of solid white-ball pacers, Bhuvi’s axing might become inevitable. For the team management, someone like Deepak Chahar would almost become a like-to-like replacement of Bhuvi and perhaps others like Mohammed Siraj, Avesh Khan or maybe even a Harshal Patel might seize his spot.

Or else, if the team maybe wants someone who can also largely contribute with the bat then Shardul Thakur certainly comes to the fore. All in all, maybe, in the long run, the rugged package of Avesh Khan might be the ideal fill-in for Bhuvneshwar.

As the 24-year old is a heavy scalper both in the powerplay and in death overs along with some handsome sets of variations in his sleeves, the young spearhead could become a strong contender. Hence with a towering tide of pacers already waiting to swallow Bhuvneshwar’s slot, certainly the medium-pacer is standing at the last resort to prove his worth.

2. Axar Patel

<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-492118 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Axar-Patel.jpg" alt="Axar Patel" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-492118" class="wp-caption-text">Axar Patel. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption>

For Axar Patel, the year 2021 has been utterly blissful. At the start of the year, the all-rounder became a hero in India’s home Test series against England that also then paved his way into white-ball cricket. Also, since his senior- Ravindra Jadeja was enduring an injury, Axar was eventually perceived to be his ideal replacement.

The cricketer even in the IPL proved his white-ball worth as for the DC franchise, his left-arm spin bagged him a total of 15 wickets from 12 games in the 2021 season. Perhaps such an exemplary patch in 2021 has commendably made him a multi-format player but in the near future, even his place looks to be in ambivalence.

To keep himself afloat in India’s white-ball cricket, the 27-year old will constantly face a challenge from a few bunches of all-rounders. Specifically, as Axar is perceived as <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/jasprit-bumrah-imitates-ravindra-jadejas-bowling-style-in-the-nets/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ravindra Jadeja’s</a> deputy, the all-rounder will face a strong heat once Washington Sundar makes his comeback in white-ball cricket. At present, with someone like Venkatesh Iyer also being named in the T20I squad, the youngster will get examined for his secondary role.

And eventually with both Ravindra Jadeja and even Hardik Pandya being available, surely India’s white-ball team won’t indulge in a superfluity of all-rounders in their playing squad. Hence in the upcoming T20I series against NZ, Axar Patel will have to fire on all cylinders to continue his establishment in team India’s limited-overs affairs.

3. Ajinkya Rahane

<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-489770 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ajinkya-Rahane-4.jpg" alt="Ajinkya Rahane" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-489770" class="wp-caption-text">Ajinkya Rahane. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption>

Even sadly for Ajinkya Rahane, the upcoming home Test series against NZ will be a very essential endeavour. For the longest of times, his place in the Test squad has been in severe jeopardy merely because of his reasonable performances in the past two years. The cricketer had a very average tour of England wherein he amassed runs at a poor average of around 15.

Perhaps though the breakdown in the English tour vigorously demanded his axing, the 33-year old was still very much considered as a vital cog of the Test side. However, with the reports now suggesting <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/head-coach-rahul-dravid-rohit-sharma-and-other-team-india-players-arrive-in-jaipur-for-1st-t20i-against-new-zealand/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rohit Sharma</a> to nearly be Virat Kohli’s new deputy in red-ball cricket, surely Rahane’s career is floating on thin ice.

Also since the upcoming South Africa tour will now kickstart team India’s new away SENA cycle, definitely the new team management will prefer grooming a youngster in place of Rahane if the veteran player continues to malfunction.

In fact with few players like Hanuma Vihari and Shubman Gill already being strongly fostered, one of them can easily dwell in the place of the Mumbai batter. Hence, the two Test matches against NZ will be the games where Rahane has to bat out of his skin.

4. Wriddhiman Saha

<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-470875 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Wriddhiman-Saha.jpg" alt="Wriddhiman Saha" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-470875" class="wp-caption-text">Wriddhiman Saha. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)</figcaption>

Well, for Wriddhiman Saha, it looks the time has definitely come to hang his India boots. Since the retirement of MS Dhoni, the cricketer was perceived to be the best gloveman in the country. Perhaps in the recent years, though his establishment had fallen behind the likes of Rishabh Pant, the 37-year old was still considered to be good enough for the red-ball affairs.

However, with the emergence of the young talented wicket-keepers like KS Bharat, soon the veteran might get replaced by the upcoming crop of wicket-keepers. In fact with the reports suggesting that <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/mentor-on-duty-twitterati-react-as-ms-dhoni-trains-rishabh-pant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rishabh Pant</a> might get rested for the NZ Test series, it eventually then earmarks Bharat’s entry into India’s red-ball setup as the secondary gloveman.

Overall, the above scenario looks to be very true, as the 28-year old Andhra Pradesh batter wasn’t selected for India A’s tour of South Africa. Hence with all likelihood, it looks like Wriddhiman Saha will play the NZ Test series as a front-line wicket-keeper but ultimately after that might face an axing.

All in all, also since many of team India’s senior players will receive a rest, Saha actually can step-up with the bat which then might elongate his future India presence.

5. Ravi Ashwin

<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-577917 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ravichandran-Ashwin-1.jpg" alt="Ravichandran Ashwin" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-577917" class="wp-caption-text">Ravichandran Ashwin. (Photo by AAMIR QURESHI/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption>

For Ravi Ashwin, playing white-ball cricket has been very tough. Since the 2017 Champions Trophy, the cricketer’s finger spin was sidelined but just before the 2021 T20 World Cup, a call back was announced. Despite being a heavy scalper in the IPL, Ashwin is still considered to be the deputy of India’s chief leg-spinner.

However, the 35-year old’s call up in the 2021 T20 WC was fixed merely because of the injured Washington Sundar being unavailable. But once when Sundar will be present then chances are that our beloved veteran might again get dropped. Perhaps with other spinners like Rahul Chahar and Yuzvendra Chahal also being the other cogs in India’s T20I setup, sustaining Ashwin’s role will be very complex.

The emergence of <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/he-is-difficult-to-pick-just-like-varun-chakravarthy-sunil-gavaskar-backs-mujeeb-ur-rahman-to-come-good-against-new-zealand/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Varun Chakravarthy</a> in the current times has also brought in an extra challenge for the selectors and apparently it looks even he will receive a longer rope.

Overall, though in totality team India’s T20I spin artillery is highly brimmed with a variety of spinners, specifically for Ashwin, the clear path is to consistently perform and continue sustaining. Hence the forthcoming T20I series against NZ will be another golden opportunity for Ashwin to continue to serve India in the blue jersey.

Well, after the debacle of the 2021 T20 World Cup, a new dawn has emerged in Indian cricket. The buoyant era of coach Ravi Shastri and captain Virat Kohli has finally concluded and a new team of successors has come on board. Perhaps to further surge up the stature of Indian cricket, a new robust leadership group has been established to clinch the upcoming three ICC events.
However, in that process, some players, who are standing on thin ice, are expected to get effaced from the system someday or the other. Like a lot of precision, prudence and transparency are being expected from the new team management, a flush out of ineffective players looks to be right on the cards.
<h3 class="p1">Hence in this list, let’s check out 5 Indian players for whom the New Zealand series could be the last chance to prove their worth</h3>
<h3>1. Bhuvneshwar Kumar</h3>
<figure id="attachment_500065" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-500065" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="wp-image-500065 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Bhuvneshwar-Kumar-2.jpg" alt="Bhuvneshwar Kumar" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-500065" class="wp-caption-text">Bhuvneshwar Kumar. (Photo by Surjeet Yadav/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Unfortunately, for Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the year 2021 hasn’t been fruitful. Again the cricketer during the first half of 2021 was badly injured which in many ways has raised immense question marks on his fitness. Perhaps such a chronic fitness breakdown that has nearly eaten all his prime is now all set to cost Bhuvi his India cap. 
In terms of his recent limited-overs performances, it looks like the 31-year old has completely lost his white-ball zeal. In IPL 2021, the ace pacer of SRH could only manage to pick mere 6 wickets from his 11 games that too at his highest ever IPL economy rate. Even the malfunction in the 2021 T20 World Cup has added to Bhuvi’s midlife cricket crisis. 
However, a set of failures in the upcoming home series against NZ can become one of the last nails in the coffin. As the selectors now have a colossal pool of solid white-ball pacers, Bhuvi’s axing might become inevitable. For the team management, someone like Deepak Chahar would almost become a like-to-like replacement of Bhuvi and perhaps others like Mohammed Siraj, Avesh Khan or maybe even a Harshal Patel might seize his spot. 
Or else, if the team maybe wants someone who can also largely contribute with the bat then Shardul Thakur certainly comes to the fore. All in all, maybe, in the long run, the rugged package of Avesh Khan might be the ideal fill-in for Bhuvneshwar. 
As the 24-year old is a heavy scalper both in the powerplay and in death overs along with some handsome sets of variations in his sleeves, the young spearhead could become a strong contender. Hence with a towering tide of pacers already waiting to swallow Bhuvneshwar’s slot, certainly the medium-pacer is standing at the last resort to prove his worth.

<h3 class="p3">2. Axar Patel</h3>
<figure id="attachment_492118" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-492118" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="wp-image-492118 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Axar-Patel.jpg" alt="Axar Patel" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-492118" class="wp-caption-text">Axar Patel. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
For Axar Patel, the year 2021 has been utterly blissful. At the start of the year, the all-rounder became a hero in India’s home Test series against England that also then paved his way into white-ball cricket. Also, since his senior- Ravindra Jadeja was enduring an injury, Axar was eventually perceived to be his ideal replacement. 
The cricketer even in the IPL proved his white-ball worth as for the DC franchise, his left-arm spin bagged him a total of 15 wickets from 12 games in the 2021 season. Perhaps such an exemplary patch in 2021 has commendably made him a multi-format player but in the near future, even his place looks to be in ambivalence.
To keep himself afloat in India’s white-ball cricket, the 27-year old will constantly face a challenge from a few bunches of all-rounders. Specifically, as Axar is perceived as <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/jasprit-bumrah-imitates-ravindra-jadejas-bowling-style-in-the-nets/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ravindra Jadeja’s</a> deputy, the all-rounder will face a strong heat once Washington Sundar makes his comeback in white-ball cricket. At present, with someone like Venkatesh Iyer also being named in the T20I squad, the youngster will get examined for his secondary role. 
And eventually with both Ravindra Jadeja and even Hardik Pandya being available, surely India’s white-ball team won’t indulge in a superfluity of all-rounders in their playing squad. Hence in the upcoming T20I series against NZ, Axar Patel will have to fire on all cylinders to continue his establishment in team India’s limited-overs affairs.

<h3 class="p3">3. Ajinkya Rahane</h3>
<figure id="attachment_489770" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-489770" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="wp-image-489770 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ajinkya-Rahane-4.jpg" alt="Ajinkya Rahane" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-489770" class="wp-caption-text">Ajinkya Rahane. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Even sadly for Ajinkya Rahane, the upcoming home Test series against NZ will be a very essential endeavour. For the longest of times, his place in the Test squad has been in severe jeopardy merely because of his reasonable performances in the past two years. The cricketer had a very average tour of England wherein he amassed runs at a poor average of around 15.
Perhaps though the breakdown in the English tour vigorously demanded his axing, the 33-year old was still very much considered as a vital cog of the Test side. However, with the reports now suggesting <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/head-coach-rahul-dravid-rohit-sharma-and-other-team-india-players-arrive-in-jaipur-for-1st-t20i-against-new-zealand/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rohit Sharma</a> to nearly be Virat Kohli’s new deputy in red-ball cricket, surely Rahane’s career is floating on thin ice. 
Also since the upcoming South Africa tour will now kickstart team India’s new away SENA cycle, definitely the new team management will prefer grooming a youngster in place of Rahane if the veteran player continues to malfunction.
In fact with few players like Hanuma Vihari and Shubman Gill already being strongly fostered, one of them can easily dwell in the place of the Mumbai batter. Hence, the two Test matches against NZ will be the games where Rahane has to bat out of his skin.

<h3 class="p3">4. Wriddhiman Saha</h3>
<figure id="attachment_470875" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-470875" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="wp-image-470875 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Wriddhiman-Saha.jpg" alt="Wriddhiman Saha" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-470875" class="wp-caption-text">Wriddhiman Saha. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Well, for Wriddhiman Saha, it looks the time has definitely come to hang his India boots. Since the retirement of MS Dhoni, the cricketer was perceived to be the best gloveman in the country. Perhaps in the recent years, though his establishment had fallen behind the likes of Rishabh Pant, the 37-year old was still considered to be good enough for the red-ball affairs.
However, with the emergence of the young talented wicket-keepers like KS Bharat, soon the veteran might get replaced by the upcoming crop of wicket-keepers. In fact with the reports suggesting that <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/mentor-on-duty-twitterati-react-as-ms-dhoni-trains-rishabh-pant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rishabh Pant</a> might get rested for the NZ Test series, it eventually then earmarks Bharat’s entry into India’s red-ball setup as the secondary gloveman. 
Overall, the above scenario looks to be very true, as the 28-year old Andhra Pradesh batter wasn’t selected for India A’s tour of South Africa. Hence with all likelihood, it looks like Wriddhiman Saha will play the NZ Test series as a front-line wicket-keeper but ultimately after that might face an axing. 
All in all, also since many of team India’s senior players will receive a rest, Saha actually can step-up with the bat which then might elongate his future India presence.

<h3 class="p3">5. Ravi Ashwin</h3>
<figure id="attachment_577917" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-577917" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="wp-image-577917 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ravichandran-Ashwin-1.jpg" alt="Ravichandran Ashwin" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-577917" class="wp-caption-text">Ravichandran Ashwin. (Photo by AAMIR QURESHI/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
For Ravi Ashwin, playing white-ball cricket has been very tough. Since the 2017 Champions Trophy, the cricketer’s finger spin was sidelined but just before the 2021 T20 World Cup, a call back was announced. Despite being a heavy scalper in the IPL, Ashwin is still considered to be the deputy of India’s chief leg-spinner.
However, the 35-year old’s call up in the 2021 T20 WC was fixed merely because of the injured Washington Sundar being unavailable. But once when Sundar will be present then chances are that our beloved veteran might again get dropped. Perhaps with other spinners like Rahul Chahar and Yuzvendra Chahal also being the other cogs in India’s T20I setup, sustaining Ashwin’s role will be very complex.
The emergence of <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/he-is-difficult-to-pick-just-like-varun-chakravarthy-sunil-gavaskar-backs-mujeeb-ur-rahman-to-come-good-against-new-zealand/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Varun Chakravarthy</a> in the current times has also brought in an extra challenge for the selectors and apparently it looks even he will receive a longer rope. 
Overall, though in totality team India’s T20I spin artillery is highly brimmed with a variety of spinners, specifically for Ashwin, the clear path is to consistently perform and continue sustaining. Hence the forthcoming T20I series against NZ will be another golden opportunity for Ashwin to continue to serve India in the blue jersey.

Well, after the debacle of the 2021 T20 World Cup, a new dawn has emerged in Indian cricket. The buoyant era of coach Ravi Shastri and captain Virat Kohli has finally concluded and a new team of successors has come on board. Perhaps to further surge up the stature of Indian cricket, a new robust leadership group has been established to clinch the upcoming three ICC events.
However, in that process, some players, who are standing on thin ice, are expected to get effaced from the system someday or the other. Like a lot of precision, prudence and transparency are being expected from the new team management, a flush out of ineffective players looks to be right on the cards.
<h3 class="p1">Hence in this list, let’s check out 5 Indian players for whom the New Zealand series could be the last chance to prove their worth</h3>
<h3>1. Bhuvneshwar Kumar</h3>
<figure id="attachment_500065" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-500065" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-500065 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Bhuvneshwar-Kumar-2.jpg" alt="Bhuvneshwar Kumar" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-500065" class="wp-caption-text">Bhuvneshwar Kumar. (Photo by Surjeet Yadav/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Unfortunately, for Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the year 2021 hasn’t been fruitful. Again the cricketer during the first half of 2021 was badly injured which in many ways has raised immense question marks on his fitness. Perhaps such a chronic fitness breakdown that has nearly eaten all his prime is now all set to cost Bhuvi his India cap. 
In terms of his recent limited-overs performances, it looks like the 31-year old has completely lost his white-ball zeal. In IPL 2021, the ace pacer of SRH could only manage to pick mere 6 wickets from his 11 games that too at his highest ever IPL economy rate. Even the malfunction in the 2021 T20 World Cup has added to Bhuvi’s midlife cricket crisis. 
However, a set of failures in the upcoming home series against NZ can become one of the last nails in the coffin. As the selectors now have a colossal pool of solid white-ball pacers, Bhuvi’s axing might become inevitable. For the team management, someone like Deepak Chahar would almost become a like-to-like replacement of Bhuvi and perhaps others like Mohammed Siraj, Avesh Khan or maybe even a Harshal Patel might seize his spot. 
Or else, if the team maybe wants someone who can also largely contribute with the bat then Shardul Thakur certainly comes to the fore. All in all, maybe, in the long run, the rugged package of Avesh Khan might be the ideal fill-in for Bhuvneshwar. 
As the 24-year old is a heavy scalper both in the powerplay and in death overs along with some handsome sets of variations in his sleeves, the young spearhead could become a strong contender. Hence with a towering tide of pacers already waiting to swallow Bhuvneshwar’s slot, certainly the medium-pacer is standing at the last resort to prove his worth.

<h3 class="p3">2. Axar Patel</h3>
<figure id="attachment_492118" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-492118" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-492118 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Axar-Patel.jpg" alt="Axar Patel" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-492118" class="wp-caption-text">Axar Patel. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
For Axar Patel, the year 2021 has been utterly blissful. At the start of the year, the all-rounder became a hero in India’s home Test series against England that also then paved his way into white-ball cricket. Also, since his senior- Ravindra Jadeja was enduring an injury, Axar was eventually perceived to be his ideal replacement. 
The cricketer even in the IPL proved his white-ball worth as for the DC franchise, his left-arm spin bagged him a total of 15 wickets from 12 games in the 2021 season. Perhaps such an exemplary patch in 2021 has commendably made him a multi-format player but in the near future, even his place looks to be in ambivalence.
To keep himself afloat in India’s white-ball cricket, the 27-year old will constantly face a challenge from a few bunches of all-rounders. Specifically, as Axar is perceived as <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/jasprit-bumrah-imitates-ravindra-jadejas-bowling-style-in-the-nets/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ravindra Jadeja’s</a> deputy, the all-rounder will face a strong heat once Washington Sundar makes his comeback in white-ball cricket. At present, with someone like Venkatesh Iyer also being named in the T20I squad, the youngster will get examined for his secondary role. 
And eventually with both Ravindra Jadeja and even Hardik Pandya being available, surely India’s white-ball team won’t indulge in a superfluity of all-rounders in their playing squad. Hence in the upcoming T20I series against NZ, Axar Patel will have to fire on all cylinders to continue his establishment in team India’s limited-overs affairs.

<h3 class="p3">3. Ajinkya Rahane</h3>
<figure id="attachment_489770" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-489770" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-489770 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ajinkya-Rahane-4.jpg" alt="Ajinkya Rahane" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-489770" class="wp-caption-text">Ajinkya Rahane. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Even sadly for Ajinkya Rahane, the upcoming home Test series against NZ will be a very essential endeavour. For the longest of times, his place in the Test squad has been in severe jeopardy merely because of his reasonable performances in the past two years. The cricketer had a very average tour of England wherein he amassed runs at a poor average of around 15.
Perhaps though the breakdown in the English tour vigorously demanded his axing, the 33-year old was still very much considered as a vital cog of the Test side. However, with the reports now suggesting <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/head-coach-rahul-dravid-rohit-sharma-and-other-team-india-players-arrive-in-jaipur-for-1st-t20i-against-new-zealand/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rohit Sharma</a> to nearly be Virat Kohli’s new deputy in red-ball cricket, surely Rahane’s career is floating on thin ice. 
Also since the upcoming South Africa tour will now kickstart team India’s new away SENA cycle, definitely the new team management will prefer grooming a youngster in place of Rahane if the veteran player continues to malfunction.
In fact with few players like Hanuma Vihari and Shubman Gill already being strongly fostered, one of them can easily dwell in the place of the Mumbai batter. Hence, the two Test matches against NZ will be the games where Rahane has to bat out of his skin.

<h3 class="p3">4. Wriddhiman Saha</h3>
<figure id="attachment_470875" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-470875" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-470875 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Wriddhiman-Saha.jpg" alt="Wriddhiman Saha" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-470875" class="wp-caption-text">Wriddhiman Saha. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Well, for Wriddhiman Saha, it looks the time has definitely come to hang his India boots. Since the retirement of MS Dhoni, the cricketer was perceived to be the best gloveman in the country. Perhaps in the recent years, though his establishment had fallen behind the likes of Rishabh Pant, the 37-year old was still considered to be good enough for the red-ball affairs.
However, with the emergence of the young talented wicket-keepers like KS Bharat, soon the veteran might get replaced by the upcoming crop of wicket-keepers. In fact with the reports suggesting that <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/mentor-on-duty-twitterati-react-as-ms-dhoni-trains-rishabh-pant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rishabh Pant</a> might get rested for the NZ Test series, it eventually then earmarks Bharat’s entry into India’s red-ball setup as the secondary gloveman. 
Overall, the above scenario looks to be very true, as the 28-year old Andhra Pradesh batter wasn’t selected for India A’s tour of South Africa. Hence with all likelihood, it looks like Wriddhiman Saha will play the NZ Test series as a front-line wicket-keeper but ultimately after that might face an axing. 
All in all, also since many of team India’s senior players will receive a rest, Saha actually can step-up with the bat which then might elongate his future India presence.

<h3 class="p3">5. Ravi Ashwin</h3>
<figure id="attachment_577917" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-577917" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-577917 size-full" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ravichandran-Ashwin-1.jpg" alt="Ravichandran Ashwin" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-577917" class="wp-caption-text">Ravichandran Ashwin. (Photo by AAMIR QURESHI/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
For Ravi Ashwin, playing white-ball cricket has been very tough. Since the 2017 Champions Trophy, the cricketer’s finger spin was sidelined but just before the 2021 T20 World Cup, a call back was announced. Despite being a heavy scalper in the IPL, Ashwin is still considered to be the deputy of India’s chief leg-spinner.
However, the 35-year old’s call up in the 2021 T20 WC was fixed merely because of the injured Washington Sundar being unavailable. But once when Sundar will be present then chances are that our beloved veteran might again get dropped. Perhaps with other spinners like Rahul Chahar and Yuzvendra Chahal also being the other cogs in India’s T20I setup, sustaining Ashwin’s role will be very complex.
The emergence of <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/he-is-difficult-to-pick-just-like-varun-chakravarthy-sunil-gavaskar-backs-mujeeb-ur-rahman-to-come-good-against-new-zealand/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Varun Chakravarthy</a> in the current times has also brought in an extra challenge for the selectors and apparently it looks even he will receive a longer rope. 
Overall, though in totality team India’s T20I spin artillery is highly brimmed with a variety of spinners, specifically for Ashwin, the clear path is to consistently perform and continue sustaining. Hence the forthcoming T20I series against NZ will be another golden opportunity for Ashwin to continue to serve India in the blue jersey.

Two of the below-mentioned players took part in the T20 World Cup 2021.

5 Indian players for whom New Zealand home series could be the last chance to prove their worth

Well, after the debacle of the 2021 World T20, a new dawn has emerged in Indian cricket. The buoyant era of coach Ravi Shastri and