5 Players from India squad for Ireland tour who might not make it to T20 World Cup 2022

India had a forgettable T20 World Cup campaign last year in the UAE where defeats against arch-rivals Pakistan and New Zealand by bigger margins brought curtains down on their campaign despite winning their remaining fixtures. They were knocked out of the tournament without making the semis for the first time since 2012.

The Men in Blue would now be hoping to go all the way this time around under the best leadership of Rohit Sharma and guidance from Rahul Dravid. Many players are auditioning for their respective spots in the Indian squad with less than four months left for the showpiece event. However, there are a few of them who might just not make the cut in spite of being in the squad for the two-match T20I series against Ireland. Without further ado, here’s a look at five of them who might find themselves out of this list.

1. Ruturaj Gaikwad

Ruturaj Gaikwad was seen as India’s limited-overs specialist batter after IPL 2021 where he finished as the Orange Cap winner with 635 runs in the bag. However, the Maharashtra cricketer had a not-so-impressive season in the 2022 edition where he finished with 368 runs from 14 matches.

Meanwhile, Gaikwad could not score consistently in the home series against South Africa and only managed one half-century which happened to be in the third game. He scored 57 runs from 35 deliveries that eventually helped India in registering an emphatic 48-run win. While the opener has a few more chances to showcase his skills, it seems highly unlikely that he would feature in the World Cup squad.

Once KL Rahul is back in the Indian squad after recovering from his groin injury, the opening slot will be occupied and with an in-form Ishan Kishan also in the hunt, the Pune batter might need to wait another day.

2. Axar Patel

Apart from being a handy left-arm spinner, Axar Patel also has the potential to score some precious runs lower down the order and can make useful contributions as a bowling all-rounder. Representing Delhi Capitals in IPL 2022, Axar managed to pick up only six wickets in 13 matches and scored 182 runs at a strike rate of 151.66.

He was not up to the mark in the South Africa T20Is either bagging just three wickets from all the four matches that he played. This was the best opportunity for Patel to prove a point to the selectors and he literally missed the trick here.

With cut-throat competition in the spin department from Ravindra Jadeja, Ravi Bishnoi, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Kuldeep Yadav, all doors could be shut on Axar Patel for making it to the T20 World Cup.

3. Arshdeep Singh

Arshdeep Singh who was one of the Punjab Kings’ mandatory retentions for IPL 2022 could not make much of an impression in the wickets column as he finished with just 10 scalps from 14 matches.

However, the young left-arm seamer managed to impress one and all with his death overs brilliance which eventually helped the yorker specialist in making it to the Indian T20I squad for South Africa and Ireland series.

With a lot of depth in the pace department and the additional availability in the form of Umran Malik, Arshdeep might not make the cut for India’s T20 World Cup squad. However, he might well get a chance to make his international debut against Ireland.

4. Venkatesh Iyer

Venkatesh Iyer was once touted as a perfect replacement for Hardik Pandya by many experts as an all-rounder in India’s T20 World Cup 2022 squad after his grand success in the IPL 2021 which saw him score 370 runs. However, the youngster failed to showcase consistency from thereon.

Despite being retained by KKR, the MP cricketer could not replicate the performances of the last season and could only manage 182 runs at a strike rate of 107.69. Venkatesh has been picked for the Ireland series, but time is literally running out for him to prove his mettle.

With the comeback of Hardik Pandya who seems to be in the form of his life, it is extremely difficult for Venkatesh Iyer to play his first major ICC tournament with the kind of form that he is in currently.

5. Ravi Bishnoi

Just like Axar Patel, even Ravi Bishnoi’s place in the Indian T20 World Cup squad is in a spot of bother as he has not been able to do anything exceptional from the IPL. In IPL 2022, Bishnoi finished with 13 wickets from 14 matches for the new entrants Lucknow Super Giants who were knocked out in the Eliminator.

The youngster was included in the South Africa T20Is, but could not get a single game to prove his worth with the team management deciding to give more chances to left-arm spinner Axar Patel.

Even though the leggie has been included for the Ireland series, India already have the problem of plenty in their spin department with the trio of Ravindra Jadeja as well as wrist-spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav. Therefore, the young leggie might have to wait for his chances of making his India debut in an ICC tournament.