T20I cricket is often said to be a fast-paced game. Players are expected to be multi-skilled with the only dimension not proving to be enough. T20I cricket accommodates many bits and pieces cricketers as compared to Tests and ODIs, where the demand for specialists is high. Owing to the nature of T20I many active cricketers have fallen from the radar and it looks difficult for them to make a comeback. Stumpsandbails brings you a list of 5 active Indian cricketers whose T20I career is as good as over.
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#5 Ishant Sharma
The lanky Indian pacer who has been India’s bowling spearhead for quite some time now has not found success in the shortest format of the game. He burst out on the scene with a deadly spell to Ricky Ponting at Perth in 2008 when he caught global attention and was bought by the IPL franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders in the inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) auctions 2008. But Sharma has flattered to deceive in the shorter formats and has often found it difficult to hit the right lengths in T20I’s. He did find some success playing for the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2019 but he sustained an injury in the IPL 2020 edition and could not force his way into the national reckoning.
#4 Ravichandran Ashwin
The wily off-spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin has been on a roll in Test cricket. His run tremendous run in red-ball cricket hasn’t yet caught the eyes of the national selectors. Ashwin has been an impressive performer even in the IPL for all these years proving to be a match-winner for whichever side he has represented. He has been off the selector’s radar post his showing in Champions Trophy, in 2017. But it has been pretty unfair on this giant of a spinner to be judged on basis of one poor outing. Time is running out for Ashwin, hope the selectors make a mature call on playing him in the T20I.
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#3 Amit Mishra
Amit Mishra is the highest wicket-taker among Indians in the IPL. His spin, guile, and variations have made him one of the best operators in the T20I format. Mishra played a crucial role for India when they qualified for the finals in the T20I World Cup in 2014. But post that, the selectors haven’t shown much faith in the leggie and he forever remains sidelined. His India career is as good as over and there seems to be a point of no return.
#2 Dinesh Karthik
He probably played the innings of the decade when he smashed 29 off 8 balls in the Nidahas Trophy final against Bangladesh in 2018. It prompted the KKR franchise to appoint him as captain in the 2018 IPL edition. Karthik had been in fine-hitting form right through 2018 and 2019. But a sudden loss of form has suddenly found him out of the national team and with the likes of Shubman Gill, and Suryakumar Yadav waiting in the wings, it seems pretty difficult for Karthik to make a comeback now.
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#1 Umesh Yadav
Umesh Yadav created a huge buzz when he got into the Indian team in 2011. He was known for his pace and swing. But a decade has passed and Yadav hasn’t been able to deliver on the promise he showed. He has often erred in line and length waiting to bowl a magic delivery far too often. He was an integral part of India’s Champions Trophy team in 2013 and 50-over ODI World Cup in 2015 but since then he has not been able to cement his spot in the limited-overs format. The selectors have already started looking beyond Umesh Yadav and have invested in newcomers like T. Natarajan for the future.
