The Team India top management and selector will consider options for the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia later in October-November.
Indian head coach Rahul Dravid and the national selectors will undoubtedly be looking ahead to the ongoing IPL 2022 to plan their strategy for the next six months.
After exiting the T20 World Cup group stage in the UAE, India’s resilience under Rohit Sharma has been rewarded with a home whitewash against New Zealand, the West Indies, and Sri Lanka.
India, on the other hand, must not be complacent and must prepare for tough opponents such as South Africa and England. In June, India will play South Africa in a five-match Twenty20 International series.
Following the South Africa series, India will travel to the United Kingdom (UK) to play a couple of T20I matches against Ireland, followed by a multi-format series against England, which will include three T20I matches.
The Indian team will want to send their best players to Australia. As a result, they will investigate as many options as possible before the main event.
Let’s take a look at some of the players who could create the Indian team based on their performance in the IPL 2022.
1. Dinesh Karthik
The first cricketer who comes to our mind for this list is, of course, Dinesh Karthik. This 36-year-old has been phenomenal for RCB in the slog overs, amassing 218 runs in 10 innings so far in IPL 2022, striking at 194.64.
Karthik has stepped in to replace former South African swashbuckler AB de Villiers at the top of the RCB batting order.
As he finished games against KKR and RR, he adjusted very well to the finisher’s role.
The Tamil Nadu player hit 66 in 34 balls against the Delhi Capitals, and he smashed 28 runs off Mustafizur Rahman’s bowling in an over to help RCB reach 189/5.
Karthik hasn’t played in blue since India’s elimination from the World Cup semi-finals in 2019. Following his stellar performance in the first stage of the IPL 2022, many cricket pundits, including Sunil Gavaskar, predicted Karthik would play in the T20 World Cup in Australia.
2. Hardik Pandya
The second on our list is none other than the brilliant all-rounder, Hardik Pandya. Since becoming its captain, Pandya has cemented his batting position at No. 4 in the Gujarat Titans batting order.
The move paid off handsomely, as the skipper scored 305 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 137.49.
Pandya is the tournament’s fourth-highest run-scorer, trailing only Shikhar Dhawan, Rahul Dravid, and Jos Buttler.
Pandya has also begun bowling and has four wickets to his name, complementing Mohammed Shami and Lockie Ferguson in the pace department. The Indian all-rounder is making a case for selection to the T20 World Cup in Australia later this year.
Since the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 during the last November, Pandya hasn’t played for Team India. With his impressive IPL 2022 campaign, the Indian all-rounder may have pipped Venkatesh Iyer to the post.
3. Arshdeep Singh
Arshdeep Singh
The third cricketer on our list is Arshdeep Singh. In the company of Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep is developing into a death overs specialist. Arshdeep has an economy rate of 5.66 while bowling in the slog overs in the first eight IPL matches (16-20).
The left-arm pacer has only three wickets but has been extremely economical with the ball for his team.
Arshdeep has yet to make his international debut for India, but he could be considered for the home T20Is against South Africa in June.
4. Avesh Khan
Avesh was the second-highest wicket-taker in IPL 2021. The pace bowler was purchased by LSG for a whopping INR 10 crore.
So far in the IPL 2022, the 25-year-old is his team’s leading wicket-taker. He took four wickets for 24 runs as LSG won by 12 runs against SRH.
For his outstanding bowling performance, he was named player of the match. Due to a niggle, Avesh was unable to compete in the second leg against MI.
Avesh made his T20I debut for India against the West Indies in February. On his debut, the Madhya Pradesh pacer conceded 42 runs and went wicketless. He picked up two wickets in the final T20I against Sri Lanka.
5. Umran Malik
Malik’s blistering pace has remained consistent, instilling fear in the batter. Bowling at 150kph has become routine for the Jammu and Kashmir pace sensation.
Malik claimed his maiden fifer in T20 cricket with figures of 5/25 in his most recent match against Gujarat Titans.
Four of his five wickets involved the removal of stumps, including one bowled at 152.8 kmph by Wriddhiman Saha.
The 22-year-old is Sunrisers Hyderabad’s joint-highest wicket-taker in the tournament, along with T Natarajan. Both fast bowlers have taken 15 wickets in eight games, but Malik has a higher bowling average (15.93) than the left-arm pacer (17.40).
In the 20th over, Malik became the fourth bowler in an inning’s history to bowl a maiden. He shared the achievement with Lasith Malinga, Irfan Pathan, and Jaydev Unadkat.
According to reports, the Indian selectors have kept an eye on the Indian youngster, and he is likely to be called up for the South Africa T20I series in June.
