5 players who are unlucky to miss out on the T20I squad vs South Africa
India (Image Source: BCCI)
The Indian T20 League is approaching its end with only the playoff and the final left to be played. After the end of the tournament, the Indian team will be taking on South Africa in a three-match T20I series on home soil. The Indian squad for the team has already been announced yesterday on the 22nd of May. While some of the star Indian T20 League 2022 performers have been given a chance some decent performers have not got a call-up. Here in this list, we take a look at five such players who deserved a place in the squad for the South Africa series.
1. Shikhar Dhawan: Shikhar Dhawan had been very consistent with the bat in the Indian T20 League 2022. He scored 460 runs in the tournament at an average of 38.33 and a strike rate of 122.67. His consistent performance in the tournament and the experience he brings to the table could have made him a very good choice for the team. But the mindset of the selectors to look for a young crop of players while keeping an eye on the future might have been the reason Shikhar Dhawan did not receive a call up to the squad.
2. Rahul Tripathi: Rahul Tripathi has been one of the biggest positives for the Hyderabad team in the Indian T20 League 2022. He has scored 413 runs in the tournament at an average of 34.42 and a strike rate of 158.24. He has been both dynamic and consistent for the Men in Orange. May fans and experts thought that he deserved a chance in the national setup. With the type of form, he is in, it is unfortunate that the selectors think that he has still not done enough to be on the national team.
3. Sanju Samson: Sanju Samson’s form in the Indian T20 League has blown hot and cold. He has scored 374 runs in the tournament at an average of 28.77 and a strike rate of 147.24. Although a decent season it is not what is expected of him in general. But his batting exploits in the tournament over the years and the class that he displays during his presence in the crease make him someone, who deserves an extended run in the national colors.\
4. Rahul Tewatia: Rahul Tewatia has been brilliant with the bat. Though he has just scored 217 runs for the team in 12 innings at an average of 31.0 and a strike rate of 147.62, he has played some brilliant little cameos for the team. He has been responsible for pulling off some impossible heists for Gujarat. His exploits deserved a run with the national team as a finisher for them.
5. T Natarajan: T Natarajan has been in the mainframe of Indian cricket for a couple of seasons. In Indian T20 League 2022, Natarajan has picked up 18 wickets in eleven matches at an average of 22.56 and a strike rate of 14.33. Although his economy was on the higher side reading 9.44 runs per over it must be kept in mind, that he was bowling the difficult overs in the death for a team that was continuously in the tournament. Thus, he deserved a chance as a death bowling option.
