How the Team India players have fared in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy so far

The group stages of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2015-16 have just come to an end. The few cricketers from the Indian team who played in this tournament have had a mixed fortune and will be glad to have some match practice with the busy schedule ahead.This domestic tournament which is played in the T20 format is of paramount importance -- not only does this help the senior cricketers stay in the groove, it also throws up quite a few unlikely names who can be considered for the ICC World T20 this year.Let us see how the Indian cricket team players have fared in the tournament so far. Past cricketers or cricketers who are not in the national scheme of things have not been considered for this article.

#1 Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj continues to impress

Yuvraj Singh's comeback to the national team for the T20 series against Australia was celebrated with much fanfare and optimism. Yuvraj, who earned his place back due to a series of brilliant performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Yuvraj has failed to replicate that form and has had somewhat of a mixed outing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy this year. His 44-ball 54 against Kerala was a good way to sign off for him and will give him the much needed confidence for the Australia tour.

Yuvraj has scored 56 runs from 4 matches at an average of 18.66 in the tournament. He also has two wickets in his kitty, having come away with figures of 2 for 16 in Punjab's opening game against Rajasthan.

#2 Suresh Raina

Raina’s performances were below-par in the tournament

Suresh Raina was the big exclusion from the ODI side against Australia. Not so long ago, he was being touted as Dhoni's replacement to carry out the role of the finisher in limited overs cricket for India. But the axe has now fallen on him thanks to a series of indifferent performances.

In the two matches that he played for Uttar Pradesh in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy this year, the big-hitting southpaw has got starts but failed to convert them into big ones. He has scored 48 runs from his 2 matches at an average of 24.00. But he scored his runs in quick time and has a strike-rate of 160 from the two matches.

#3 Harbhajan Singh

Bhajji picked 9 wickets in the tournament

Ever since his comeback, Harbhajan Singh has not done enough to retain his place in the Indian side. However, he continues to remain an important player in T20 cricket as he has shown by his performances in the IPL and most recently in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Bhajji has been in great form in the tournament having picked up 9 wickets from his 5 outings at an economy of 4.38. He came away with best bowling figures of 3 for 8 against Jammu and Kashmir in the tournament.

He will really be hoping to continue his good form in the T20 series against Australia so that he can book his place in the ICC World T20.

#4 Cheteshwar Pujara

Pujara showed he is not a one trick pony

Cheteshwar Pujara has always been considered to be a very promising Test batsman and the ultimate successor to Rahul Dravid. But he has surprised quite a few by being a great success in the T20 format in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy this year.

Pujara has scored 232 runs from 6 matches at an average of 46.40 in this year's tournament. Pujara has been piling on the runs and has been a shining light in an otherwise disappointing campaign for Saurashtra this year.

Saurashtra did beat Punjab by 19 runs but were knocked out at the group stage when Jharkhand beat Kerala on the same day.

#5 Wriddiman Saha

Apart from one good innings, Saha was disappointing

Wriddhiman Saha has been a calming presence behind the stumps ever since he took over the wicket-keeping duties for India in Tests. The only criticism against him has been that he has not done enough with the bat to hold on to his position in the side.

Saha scored a scintillating 81 against Hyderabad and was a major architect in the Bengal victory that day. But he has failed to kick on in rest of the matches having scored 136 runs from 6 matches at an average of 22.66.

With Bengal now knocked out of the tournament, questions will be asked if Saha could have done more with the bat.

#6 Mohammed Shami

Shami picked 5 wickets in the 2 matches he played in the tournament

There was great optimism around Mohammed Shami's return to the side for the Australia tour. The pace and bounce in the Australian tracks have helped Shami in the past and he was a shining light in India's World Cup 2015 campaign.

Shami seems to have been on the right track after a long injury lay-off, having impressed in the outings for Bengal in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy this year. In the first match against Hyderabad this year, his fiery spell of 3 for 18 from 2.2 overs virtually blew away the opposition.

Shami had taken 5 wickets from the 2 matches he has played in the tournament this year. It is extremely unfortunate that he has now been ruled out of the Australia tour with a hamstring injury. It has to be a major setback for India's chances in Australia.

#7 Hardik Pandya

Pandya has done well with both bat and ball

Hardik Pandya had a good IPL last year when he impressed everyone with his big-hitting prowess. The dashing Baroda all-rounder seems to have continued in the same vein in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy this year, lighting up the tournament with his huge sixes.

In the final Group C match of the tournament, Pandya hit Delhi medium-pacer Akash Sudan for five sixes and one four in an over en route to a blistering 81. He is the fifth highest run-getter in this edition of the tournament so far, having amassed 234 runs from 6 matches at an average of 58.50.

He also has 7 wickets to go with it, which makes him an exciting all-round prospect for the Indian team. Eyes will be on him when he makes his debut during the T20 series in Australia.

#8 Amit Mishra

Mishra picked just 4 wickets in the tournament

Amit Mishra has had an unimpressive outing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Mishra has always been considered to be more of a specialist in the longer version of the game and has struggled to do well enough to break into the ODI or T20 team for India.

His performances in this tournament have been lackadaisical, having picked up just 4 wickets at an economy of 8.33 from the 5 matches he played. Mishra has been inaccurate and expensive, perhaps betraying the well-argued fact that he is more comfortable bowling with men around the bat.

With Jadeja and Ashwin around, Mishra's chances of getting picked for India in the limited versions of the game looks bleak now.

#9 Ashish Nehra

Nehra picked just 1 wicket in the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy

At the age of 36, Ashish Nehra has made perhaps the unlikeliest comeback to the Indian T20 squad. Nehra's inclusion is mainly a reward for his superlative performances in last year's IPL where he bowled with passion, pace and an enviable precision.

He has not however not achieved anything remarkable in the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy this year, having picked up just 1 wicket from the two matches he has played in. He has also been slightly on the expensive side, having an economy of 7.50 in the tournament.

But with Nehra's experience, it might well be a fairytale comeback for him in the T20 series Down Under if he can replicate his IPL success. It might also open the doors for him to the India team in the ICC World T20 this year.

#10 Stuart Binny

Binny’s performances were not up to the mark

Stuart Binny has been in and out of the Indian side for some time now. Though he was originally touted as the next best pace bowling all-rounder, Binny has flattered to deceive and has failed to make the no. 7 spot permanently his.

Binny has scored 76 runs from 5 matches at an average of 19 in the tournament. He has 3 wickets to go with it and has had an ordinary tournament so far. He will definitely have to do a lot more to reclaim his spot in the Indian team.

Binny must simply do more to overcome the tag of a bits-and-pieces cricketer.