4 Indian players who should be tried in the 2018 Nidahas Trophy

The 70th year of Sri Lanka's independence will see Sri Lanka battle it out with India and Bangladesh in a T20 tri series which will commence from 6th March, 2018. Each team will play each other twice with the top two teams proceeding to the finals. All the 7 matches will be played at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Team India has tasted success against Sri Lanka in all formats in recent times. After a long and grueling tour of South Africa, the management might consider resting some of the players who have played South Africa in all the formats. Team India may test some players in the tri series considering that team India will be looking to build a team for the T20 World Cup in Australia in 2020.

Here is a look at 5 such players who the team management should consider in the upcoming tri-series:

#4 Mayank Agarwal

Mayank had a phenomenal start to his career when he top scored for India in the 2010 U 19 World Cup. The 27 year old batsman from Bangalore has around 7 years of experience at the domestic level. However consistent performances eluded Mayank and he has failed to make it to the international level.

However his performances in the 2017-2018 season might open the doors for his entry in the Indian team. In the 2017 Ranji season, Mayank was the top run scorer having scored 1160 runs in 13 innings at an average of 105.45 with hundreds. He continued this from in the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy too.

Mayank is an aggressive batsman at the top of the order and can be considered by the team management if they decide to rest either of Rohit Sharma or Shikhar Dhawan for the Nidahas trophy.

#3 Shardul Thakur

Thakur will be an ideal replacement for Bhuvi or Bumrah for the tri series

Shardul has created rapid strides at the domestic level. The 26 year old fast bowler from Mumbai has been amongst the reserves of the Indian team since almost 2 seasons. In 3 ODIs till date, the fast bowler has scalped 5 wickets at an impressive average of 25.20.

In the recently concluded ODI series against South Africa, the Indian team management rested Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the 6th ODI and Thakur was drafted in the playing XI and he impressed one and all by picking up 4 wickets.

The team management may consider resting the two frontline seamers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah from the tri series. If that happens, the tri series will provide a perfect platform for Thakur to showcase his skills and talent at the big stage.

#2 Deepak Hooda

Hooda will be an asset for team India with his ability to score quick runs

Team India requires a batsman in the middle/ lower middle order who can change the course of a T20 match in an over or two. Deepak Hooda is one such cricketer who can fulfill the role of the aggressor. The 22 year old right hander from Baroda was a part of the Indian team which took on Sri Lanka in the T20 series in India in December, 2017. However Hooda did not make it to the playing XI in any of the matches.

Hooda can strike the ball hard and can score runs quickly. He can be trusted with the role of the aggressor as and when the situation demands.

Hooda also bowls right arm off breaks and can chip in with an over or two as and when the skipper requires. With the eyes set on the 2020 T20 World Cup in Australia, Hooda should certainly be drafted in the T20 squad for the upcoing tri series.

#1 Rishabh Pant:

Rishabh Pant has the distinction of scoring the second fastest century in T20 cricket

Team India needs to groom a wicket keeper in the limited overs format. While M.S. Dhoni continues to impress one and all with his glove work, it is not long before he might call it a day in international cricket.

The 20-year-old left-hander Pant should be groomed by the selectors as the Indian wicket keeper at least in the 20 over format. Pant is an aggressive batsman who can make a difference in the first 6 overs a of T20 game with field restrictions in place. In the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Pant scored the second fastest hundred in T20 cricket. He smashed 116 runs of just 32 balls against Himachal Pradesh.

Pant should be definitely drafted in the Indian T20 squad at the earliest as he will be under the guidance of M.S. Dhoni under whom Pant can learn a lot. The Delhi batsman should be given a consistent run in T20 cricket so that he is ready to take on the wicket keeping duties from M.S. Dhoni when he retires.