India's probable 18-member squad for Ireland T20Is

10) Dinesh Karthik

At the moment, it seems that whatever Dinesh Karthik touches turns into gold. The Indian wicket-keeper batter is having a terrific IPL campaign, scoring 210 runs at an average of 210. The Royal Challengers Bangalore batter has been dismissed just once in the tournament and has a strike rate of over 200.

It will certainly be a harsh decision if the veteran batter is not considered for selection for the Ireland series. The selectors will be wary of his age, given that he is in his mid-30s, as the Irish tour presents an ideal opportunity to test younger players. However, we expect Karthik to make the cut, and also feature in the playing 11 for the Ireland series.

11) Axar Patel

Axar Patel will be included in the T20I squad as the sole off-spinner. The all-rounder has an outside chance of making it to the T20 World Cup squad, but he will be handed an opportunity against Ireland, in the absence of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin. Axar Patel has shown his potential as a pinch hitter in the IPL season and could occupy the number eight role for his Team India.

Irish players are often susceptible to spin bowling, and Axar Patel could create a huge dent in the opposition batting lineup with his four overs. He has picked up 13 wickets in 15 T2oI games and has an economy rate of under seven.

12) Bhuvneshwar Kumar

The selectors have shown incredible amount of faith in Bhuvneshwar Kumar over the years, despite his substandard performances with the ball. The Indian pacer is expected to be in the squad for the Ireland series, as the lead pacer. Moreover, his ability to swing the ball can come handy in the Irish conditions.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has put up some good displays in IPL 2022 so far, particularly with the new ball. With the T20 World Cup just around the corner, the veteran pacer will look to put in impactful performances to make a strong claim for selection in the Indian squad. In 59 T20I games, he has picked up 58 wickets at an economy rate of just under seven, and an average of 26.

13) T. Natarajan

T. Natarajan is finally back into the mix for a place in the Indian squad, after being marred by injury in 2021. The left-arm pacer has picked up 12 wickets in six matches at an average of 17.33, and has done an exceptional job in the slog overs for Sunrisers Hyderabad.

If Natarajan is able to keep fit for the rest of the year, one can certainly expect to see him included in the T20 World Cup squad. Speaking about the series against Ireland, Natarajan will surely be a part of the squad, as the sole left-arm pacer.

In four T20I matches so far, he has picked up seven wickets at an average of 17.42. He put on a couple of good displays in the three-match T20I series against Australia in 2020 and will hope to return to the Indian team with a bang.