5 uncapped cricketers who could feature in the Indian squad for Zimbabwe after impressing in IPL

The announcement of India’s squad for the limited-overs tour of Zimbabwe isn’t too far away. With several key players likely to be given a break for the series, there will be plenty of opportunities for youngsters to come in and show that they belong in the international arena.

Indian Premier 2016 has already seen some fantastic performances this season by youngsters, who have shown that it doesn’t matter how old you are, all that matters is if you can perform when it counts. And with India set for a long and gruelling 12 months, they will need to count on their bench strength from time to time.

Here are 5 uncapped cricketers who could feature in squad for Zimbabwe series after impressing in IPL.

Rishabh Pant

Shikhar Dhawan’s recent resurgence in the IPL means that in the tour to Zimbabwe, India will be picking at least an opener who is in-form. However, such has been the inconsistency of Dhawan’s performances that the team might be thinking about a change.

If they are looking for someone who can replace Dhawan in the long-term then Rishabh Pant is the ideal candidate in more ways than one. While it is true that experience isn’t on Pant’s side and he can be a bit erratic at times, that is largely down to his age rather than any major technical flaw.

His match-winning innings against Gujarat Lions, where he smashed 69 off 40 balls and also won the Man of the Match award, his knocks for India in the U-19 World Cup and the fact that he has the fastest fifty in the U-19 level all means that he has what it takes to succeed and it is only a matter of time.

Sarfaraz Khan

Sarfaraz’s innovative stroke play will be a welcome addition to the side

While Kohli may not be happy with Sarfaraz Khan’s efforts in the field, it is fair to say that, when it comes to his exploits with the bat in hand, they certainly merit a selection for the upcoming series against Zimbabwe, especially considering that India are on the lookout for someone to replace MS Dhoni in the middle-order in the long run.

The 18-year-old hasn’t been a part of the resurgent RCB side owing to issues with his fielding but with the bat his record is certainly impressive. In the current tournament, he averages 33 and has a strike rate in excess of 210, which for someone batting in the middle-order in a T20 game is certainly impressive.

His performances in the U-19 World Cup earlier in the year was also proof that he can handle the pressure and while he might still only be 18, age shouldn’t be a barrier to his entry to the side.

Yuvzendra Chahal

One of the main reasons for Royal Challengers Bangalore securing the four wins they needed to make it to the play-offs, apart from Virat Kohli’s simply sublime form has been Yuvzendra Chahal. The 25-year-old leg spinner has been a major part of the transformation in RCB towards the latter part of the season.

Showing plenty of maturity and control, Chahal has shown that despite playing half his games in the batting paradise that is Bengaluru, you can still shine if you know where to bowl. And that is one of the reasons why, despite playing fewer matches than everyone in the top 10 wicket-takers of the tournament, he currently holds the Purple Cap with 19 wickets in 11 matches.

If India are looking to trying out another spinner and give someone else a chance, Chahal should be at the top of the list.

Karun Nair

Karun was DD’s most impressive Indian batsman

Delhi Daredevils might not have made it to the play-offs but if there was one Delhi batsman who impressed one and all, it was Karun Nair. The 24-year-old, who plays for Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy has been in sublime form for the last couple of seasons and he hit his peak in this IPL where he showed that he has the maturity and temperament to cut it as an international cricketer.

In this edition of the IPL, Nair was one of the few players who were ever-present throughout the season as Zaheer Khan’s side chopped and changed at an alarming rate. Yet, why he was constant is completely understandable as the 24-year-old has been an mainstay in the top order for his side.

He was the side’s second-leading run-scorer behind Quinton de Kock and he finished the tournament with 357 runs from 14 matches at an average of 35.70 and strike-rate of 120.20 with three half-centuries under his kitty.

Krunal Pandya

Krunal has been a revelation in this year’s IPL

One of the finds of the ongoing IPL has been Krunal Pandya. While many questioned why Mumbai Indians had splashed the cash on an unknown all-rounder from Baroda in the IPL Auction 2016, thanks to his performances in the ongoing edition, Pandya has certainly silenced all of his doubters.

With Ravindra Jadeja showing signs of struggling in the limited-overs series against Australia at the start of the year in slightly unfavorable conditions, it might be time for India to look for a replacement, at least in the shortest format of the game. And what makes the 25-year-old an odds-on certainty to make the squad for Zimbabwe is his ability to hit true and big.

The all-rounder, who bats left-handed and bowls slow left-arm orthodox has been striking the ball cleaner than most in this year’s IPL and has also proven himself to be a handy and economical bowler. All of this, coupled with India’s need for a big-hitting middle-order batsman means Krunal Pandya might get the chance to replace his brother in the XI for the tour to Zimbabwe.