It’s IPL season as all the leading cricketers in the world are gearing up for the biggest T20 extravaganza. When it’s the IPL the main focus is always on the Indian cricketers who are part of the T20I squad. With the ICC T20 World cup just around the corner, the IPL will extremely important for some Indian players.
If they have a good IPL season with the bat and the ball they will automatically be part of India’s T20I world cup team. In this feature, we take a look at 5 Indian players who whom a good IPL season is extremely important as it will help them retain their place in the Indian squad for the big T20I cricketing season ahead.
5 Indian Cricketers For Whom A Good IPL Season Is Important
5. Yuzvendra Chahal
The leg-spinner has always been the backbone of RCB’s bowling attack in the IPL. Lsat season Chahal was brilliant as he picked 21 wickets in the season with an economy rate of only 7. However, post that his bowling form in international cricket took a beating and he wasn’t able to win matches for team India in the shortest format.
Chahal had a below-par T20I series against Australia away from home and his bowling woes continued in the home series against England where he was taken to the cleaners in every match and lost his place in the side. There’s no denying that Chahal is a champion bowler but he needs to find his best bowling form in IPL 2021.
If Chahal doesn’t have a good season with RCB then his place in the Indian T20I squad will also be in serious jeopardy with the likes of Rahul Chahar and Varun Chakravarthy being his potential replacements.
4. Ishan Kishan
The last 6 months have been nothing short of dreamy for the exciting Ishan Kishan. He had his best IPL season with the bat and then announced his arrival in international cricket with a spectacular 50 on debut against England. The 22-year-old now is certainly one of the batsman that selectors will have a close eye on in IPL 2021.
Kishan is likely to bat at number 4 for MI this season and if he again has a brilliant season with the bat he will automatically be a member of India’s T20I squad for the world cup later this year. He is a perfect middle-order batsman that India is looking for as he has the power game against both pace and spin. Ishan will be hungry to score runs for MI again this season and if he does he will continue to play T20Is for India.
3. Suryakumar Yadav
Another MI batsman who will look to go from strength to strength is Suryakumar Yadav. The 30-year-old after another good IPL season last year finally got his delayed India call-up for the T20I series against England. From the very first ball that he hit for a six, SKY made his intentions very clear.
He played with freedom and gave the Indian innings much-needed impetus in the middle overs. Suryakumar showed his class in the blue of India and if he’s able to have another good IPL season he will be one of the first picks in India’s T20I squad for the world cup.
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2. KL Rahul
Yes, who would have thought that even KL Rahul will have to prove a point in the shortest format? It all went downhill for him when he had scores of 1,0 and 0 against England and was dropped in the final match. Rahul surprisingly looked low in confidence and completely out of batting rhythm as he couldn’t buy a run in the series.
Even though he had a terrific ODI series against England but his batting form in the shortest format needs to improve. He will be captaining Punjab Kings in IPL 2021 and more than his captaincy his batting form will be the biggest focus. With the prospect of Kohli and Rohit opening for India in T20Is, Rahul will be keen to make a statement and permanently fix his place again at the top for the T20I world cup.
1. Kuldeep Yadav
Lastly, the player for whom IPL is the most important is Kuldeep Yadav. In the last few years, Kuldeep’s bowling form has completely faded away whether it be T20Is or the IPL. The batsmen now wait for Kuldeep to come in the attack so that they can score runs freely against him.
Something is clearly wrong with his bowling at the moment which he will look to improve in the upcoming IPL season. The Kolkata Knight Riders showed faith in the Indian spinner and retained him ahead of the IPL mini-auction. The spinner will now have to deliver in the IPL and if he does he will be picked in the world cup side for team India.
A wrist spinner bowling well is always an asset in a T20 squad and if Kuldeep finds his mojo back in the IPL he will then will still be part of the national side. However, if he again has a dismal season selectors will look for different options and he might not play international cricket for a long time.
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