While India’s T20 squad has a more or less settled structure with most players retaining their spot since the last T20I series, the major discussion around the selection table on Tuesday is expected to revolve around the last pick, and it promises to be a heavyweight toss-up with the likes of Shreyas Iyer and Washington Sundar in the reckoning.
There is likely to be a debate over who will be the 15th man.
It is learnt that the selection committee will discuss whether to go ahead with a specialist batsman in Shreyas Iyer, Rinku Singh or Riyan Parag. Or they might even go with the all-rounder Washington Sundar.
If selectors take a call on pure batting pedigree, they don’t have to look beyond Shreyas Iyer who led two different franchises, both with the willow especially against spin and his leadership, to IPL finals in two successive seasons.
He brings calm and game awareness and can set the game up and also finish it. Shreyas has developed a swagger of late and commands respect in whichever dressing room he finds himself in. The player who defined the last IPL should logically be in the Indian T20 side.
But given the conditions, selectors might pivot towards an all rounder. Washington Sundar did all that was asked of him in England – save a Test, hit some big blows in the company of the tail making the vital difference between defeat and a draw, while getting crucial wickets with his underrated off-spin. His skill-set would be useful in Dubai, and he was part of the side that won the ICC Champions Trophy there earlier this year. It helps that Gautam Gambhir is fond of depth, in both batting and bowling.
Will Rinku make it?
Another name likely to be discussed is Rinku Singh. He has been designated a finisher by his IPL team as well as when he has turned out in India colours, often limiting the number of balls he gets to face. Winning a game for his team by hitting five successive sixes in the final over is a rare occurrence, and that freak achievement, while bringing him into the national spotlight, has pigeon-holed him as an endgame player. It doesn’t help that Gambhir doesn’t like to designate any player as a finisher in his team.
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An outside contender is Riyan Parag who has been earmarked as a promising talent but has not quite delivered, at least not on a consistent basis. He has played the odd impressive knock for Rajasthan Royals, but is not known to win games for his side. The Assam player has a second string to his bow in the form of his part-time off-spin, but that’s usually good for only a couple of overs. Selectors have been waiting for the 23-year-old to show a mature head on his shoulders to stake a viable claim to a spot in the national side.
