The upcoming T20 World Cup has ignited intense competition within the Indian squad, with numerous players vying for limited spots. However, the national selection committee has reportedly decided against selecting any rookie IPL performers for the prestigious event.
Despite impressive performances from players like Riyan Parag, Mayank Yadav, and Abhishek Sharma in the ongoing IPL season, the selectors are hesitant to test their mettle in a high-stakes tournament like the T20 World Cup. Instead, they plan to gradually integrate these players into the national team through bilateral series.
“The likes of Riyan Parag, Mayank Yadav, Abhishek Sharma, and Harshit Rana have all performed well, but the selection committee prefers to ease them into international cricket via bilateral matches rather than putting them to the test in a high-stakes World T20 game,” a report from news agency PTI revealed.
Parag, the second-highest run-scorer in the IPL behind Virat Kohli, has impressed with his all-round abilities. Abhishek has also made a strong start, boasting an impressive strike rate in the powerplay. Mayank, despite playing only two games, has generated buzz with his raw pace.
The report also highlighted SRH’s seam-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy as another player under the BCCI’s radar. Reddy was part of the India Emerging side that toured Sri Lanka last year.
While the rookie IPL performers may not make the T20 World Cup squad, they could be considered for the upcoming white-ball series against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. Additionally, the BCCI is exploring the possibility of including some of these players as net bowlers for the World Cup, providing them with valuable exposure.
