4 Players who can replace Rayudu for the UK tour

In a very unfortunate incident for Ambati Rayudu, he is set to be dropped from the UK-bound squad after failing to clear the YoYo test at the NCA on Friday. Recalled into the national squad after his brilliant performance in the IPL, it must be devastating for him to see his chances getting shattered by an apparent lack of fitness.

A player has to score a minimum of 16.1 in the test before he can be given a green signal to play in a series. The test was made mandatory during the time Anil Kumble was the head coach of Indian cricket team.

Many players undertook the YoYo test on Friday at the NCA in Bengaluru. While Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suresh Raina and even Kedar Jadhav, who was suffering from his hamstring injury, cleared the test comfortably, Rayudu could not. His score has been reported to be below 16.1, which is the par score.

Now that he has failed the test he, in all likelihood, will be dropped from the touring squad. The selectors will now look up to another player as Rayudu's replacement. There are a few players who will be in the selectors' reckoning.

Let's have a look at four such players who may be called upon to replace Rayudu in the UK-bound squad.

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#4 Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar was impressive in Vijay Hazare Trophy as well as the IPL.

Suryakumar is one of the few players who has had a good run in recent past in limited-overs cricket. His performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and the IPL will add a lot of weight to his case when selectors meet to decide upon Rayudu's substitute. Playing for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he collected over 350 runs in just seven matches at an average of around 60.

He carried his form into the IPL as well. Playing for Mumbai Indians he scored above 500 runs in 14 matches at an average of 37 including four half-centuries. He may be behind some other contenders for Rayudu's spot in the squad but, he will not be out of selectors' sight.

#2 Mayank Agarwal

Mayank Agarwal could well be a replacement for Rayudu.

Though Mayank Agarwal did not have the best of IPLs he cannot be ruled out from being in the selectors' scheme of things when they meet to decide upon Rayudu's substitute. Barring the IPL, his last season went exceptionally well. Not only did he impress in the longer format in Ranji Trophy, he also upped his limited-overs' game in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy.

In Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy he collected 258 runs including three half-centuries at a strike-rate of around 144. He was again ruthless in the Vijay Hazare Trophy as he scored 723 runs in eight matches at an average of 90. His strike-rate in the tournament was over 100.

Given such impressive outings in the domestic circuit, it was unfortunate that he did not make the cut for the UK tour. In his prime, Mayank Agarwal deserves a place in the squad and he may well be included as Rayudu's replacement. .

#2 Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant had an amazing IPL season.

Rishabh Pant is one of the forerunners in the race to get a recall in place of Ambati Rayudu. He has been in tremendous form of late. His performance in the IPL will add value to his case, and will surely be a factor taken into consideration by the selectors when they meet to decide upon Rayudu's replacement.

His bat was on a rampage in the IPL. In fourteen matches that he played, he amassed 684 runs at an astonishing average of 52.61. His strike-rate of 173.60 only reflected his abilities as a power hitter. Despite his blitzkrieg in the IPL, he was not selected in the squad perhaps because the squad already had two wicket-keeper batsmen in the form of Karthik and Dhoni.

Though he is currently a part of India A squad, no one can see any reason as to why he can't be promoted to the senior team.

#1 Kedar Jadhav

Kedar Jadhav cleared the YoYo test.

Taking nothing away from Rayudu's brilliant form in the IPL, he was included in the squad as Jadhav was not available for selection. He sustained a hamstring injury in the very first match of IPL 2018 and had to go back to the dressing room.

Although he did come out at the end to see his team through with a couple of cheeky shots, it was announced later that he won't be part of the CSK campaign anymore and that he would require five to six more weeks to recover.

It seems that Jadhav has now fully recovered. He successfully cleared the YoYo test at the NCA on Friday. He was not dropped and was in good touch with the bat before the IPL as well.

His recovery means now that he is a natural choice as Rayudu's replacement. Jadhav is also a surety in India's World Cup squad and it only makes sense to give him exposure to English conditions now that he is available.