5 Indian cricketers who could use India-Australia series to make it to the World T20

After winning the inaugural edition of the World T20, India had fallen off the radar in the T20 circuit for a while, despite revolutionizing ‘commercial cricket’ with IPL. However, MS Dhoni’s men gave a good account of themselves in the last edition, entering into the Finals as favourites only to lose the plot after beginning extremely well.Sri Lanka chased down the paltry 134, with Virat Kohli’s sublime 77 ending in vain and Yuvraj’s career taking a dip after his 21 ball 11 in the slog over struggle earned fans’ ire. He has a chance to redeem himself now as India look to test their strength prior to the 2016 World T20 in India by playing 3 T20 Internationals. India ranked 2nd in Tests as well as ODIs is placed a lowly 7th in T20 ICC Rankings and it didn’t help that they lost both the T20s at home against the visiting South African team recently.The India-Australia series could be vital for five players who are currently on the fringes of selection and have to do everything in their power to make the most of any opportunity that comes their way. While each of them has their fair share of supporters and detractors, there is no denying that they all have something to offer to the team including a solution to at least one of several problems that plague India’s T20I cricket.

#1 Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj astonished the world by hitting 6 sixes of a Stuart Broad’s over in World T20 2007

At one point, Yuvraj Singh was miles ahead of Ravindra Jadeja in terms of talent, potential and likability. The Player of the World Cup 2011 was peaking as an all-rounder before his health and form both failed him. Nevertheless, the Chandigarh-born is not new to comebacks and the 34-year-old is sure to get at least one game against Australia.

A veteran of 40 T20I with 968 runs, Yuvraj is at the cusp of a major milestone and boasts of an average and strike-rate combo of 31.22 and 144.69, which is near-Bradmanesque to say the least in the T20 world; not to mention the fastest T20 fifty (against England) ever in all games. Yuvraj didn’t have a great 2015 IPL with just 248 runs from 14 outings but it is a well-known fact that he saves his best for the games he appears in blue.

The swashbuckling batsman has plenty of cricket in him and at the back of some excellent domestic knocks in December, he might turn on the heat on pitches that suit his style of play – where the ball comes on to the bat, as long as he can deal with the bounce. He might be played as a pure batsman considering India will definitely have Ravindra Jadeja in the playing XI, but Dhoni’s preference for the extra bowling option could be an added lifeline for Yuvraj.

#2 Ashish Nehra

Nehra was the fourth highest wicket-taker in IPL 2015

Nehra was India’s hero in the semi-final win in 2011 World Cup with figures of 2-33 against Pakistan, 8 years after his scintillating 6/23 against England in the 2003 World Cup in South Africa. However, in the T20 world, his exploits aren’t as noteworthy. Nevertheless, he turned a new leaf under Dhoni playing for Chennai Super Kings. Nehra bowled the best spell of the 2015 IPL – 4/10 and also finished as the fourth highest wicket-taker – 22 in 16 games after leading the charts for a long time.

Nehra hasn’t played a lot of domestic cricket recently but his experience, awkward angle of delivery, skidding pace and the ability to bowl in the block-hole will come in handy. Besides, Dhoni, his skipper in IPL understands Nehra, who blossomed under the captaincy of the former.

The Delhi-born bowler has one last chance to play another major tournament for India and although India has a strong pace bowling cordon, he will get at least a match, given Dhoni’s inclination to go with the known devil over the unknown angel!

At close to 37 years, Nehra isn’t a spring chicken but having played a handful of T20I and close to 97 Twenty20 games, where his average and economy are impressive, he is likely to thrive in Australia.

#3 Ajinkya Rahane

Rahane has been instrumental for the Rajasthan Royals in IPL over the years

With Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli being certainties in the batting order, India’s best Test batsman in the last couple of years is still fighting for a spot in the shorter formats of the game. Rahane has been Rajasthan Royals’ best batsman over the years, finishing 2015 IPL as the second highest run-getter, with 540 runs in 13 innings at an incredible average of 49. His strike-rate of 130.75 is equally impressive for an opener who produced the best average of the top 50 run-getters at the IPL 2015.

Rahane is classy and elegant and in Australia, his style of play will be more rewarding than blind slogging. He can score runs on either side of the wicket, against quick and short bowling. The 27-year-old will be of greater use to the Indian team outside the sub-continent than in here as far as shorter formats of the game are concerned.

Nevertheless, he can be a bedrock when needed especially if Suresh Raina starts firing at No.5. Rahane isn’t exactly a certainty but he is in great form and if he can get the runs in at least one T20I, he is likely to earn a place in the playing XI in World T20, despite our inclination for firepower. However, there are just two spots to share between Rahane, Raina, Yuvraj and Pandya, especially if Jadeja plays all the games. That will be a tricky call for Dhoni to make.

#4 Harbhajan Singh

Harbhajan was part of the Indian team which triumphed in the World T20 2007

Harbhajan Singh has a tough battle ahead of him. The sixth highest wicket-taker in IPL 2015, he knows conditions on sub-continental pitches at the back of his hand and has a lot of experience to go with it.

However, the 35-year-old has two challenges – to find a spot in the playing XI and deliver on the Australian pitches. Harbhajan likes some bounce on the track though and might enjoy it. The Mumbai Indians bowler has played 27 T20I picking up 24 wickets at 26 with an impressive economy of just 6.3. He also boasts of an under-7 economy in all T20 where his 174 wickets in 190 matches have come at nearly 25 apiece.

Given India will play 2 spinners at most in every T20I game, Harbhajan might not get a chance ahead of the Ashwin/Jadeja pairing unless there is a turning track on offer at Sydney for the third T20I which can justify including a second off-spinner and a third spinner. One good performance might be enough for Harbhajan to show he can deliver in the World Cup where India can afford to play three spinners including Jadeja as the all-rounder.

#5 Hardik Pandya

Pandya is just about the perfect all-rounder for any T20 team

Pandya blasted his way into reckoning with a couple of blitzkrieg knocks for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2015. Pandya’s 8 ball 21 against CSK and a 31 ball 61 against KKR were both intimidating and match-changing innings. He can also give the ball some zip and hence function as a batting seam-up all-rounder.

Pandya might get a nod if the think tank feels India needs firepower down the order, a persistent problem in T20s for India. His getting a game in Australia depends on luck and how the first choice XI perform given he is not in the top bracket and is there just for the experience.

But, as someone who has bowled in the IPL and can deliver a few overs and thump a few balls in the death overs with the bat, Pandya has an outside chance of making it to the World T20 squad. Pandya has a decent record in domestic T20 – nearly 27 with the bat and 36 with the ball with an acceptable economy of 7.5. He is young and is an electric fielder too, something Dhoni is known for liking!