3 players who can fill the seniors' shoes in T20Is and taste success, ft. Washington Sundar
With Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja choosing to walk away from T20Is at the end of the recently concluded ICC Men's T20 World Cup, India are bound to feel a gaping void in their armory.
That said, it was expected for this trio to call it a day from the shortest format of the game, as they were all on the wrong side of their thirties. It is now time for the youngsters to step up and fill in the massive boots of these three cricketers who served their country with distinction for more than a decade.
In this listicle, we take a look at three players who can fill the seniors' shoes and achieve success in T20Is.
#1 Washington Sundar
Tamil Nadu off-spinner Washington Sundar is one of the favorites to fill in the void left by the departure of Ravindra Jadeja. He bats left-handed, which gives him a massive advantage when coming in lower down the order, and almost everyone knows how valuable he can be with his bowling.
Sundar is known for restricting opposition teams to lowly totals with his tight lines, especially with the new ball inside the powerplay. This is a skill that holds him in high stead across all formats, and one that he will be keen on honing till the end of his career. Sundar is a readymade cricketer for the shortest format of the game.
#2 Rinku Singh
Building on his takedown of Yash Dayal in IPL 2023, Rinku Singh has since emerged as arguably India’s best finisher in T20s.
A stellar start to his career in the format has seen him compile 416 runs for India in 15 innings at a mindboggling average of 83.20 and a staggering strike rate of 176.27. It's no wonder that his exclusion from India’s T20 World Cup squad raised plenty of eyebrows even though the Men in Blue went on to clinch the title.
Rinku has mastered a difficult role, and has done enough over time to suggest that he is here to say. A calm, unflappable approach coupled with the ability to hit sixes at will against pace and spin defines this Aligarh-born left-handed batter, who is also very athletic on the field.
A first-class batting average of 54.70 and a corresponding number that reads 48.69 in List A cricket point towards a highly versatile batter who could dominate the international circuit across formats for years to come.
#3 Abhishek Sharma
The newest kid on the block in T20Is is Abhishek Sharma. He took the world by storm with the stunning century he scored in just his second international match against Zimbabwe in Harare last Sunday.
The elegant southpaw is one of the most attractive batters to watch when he is in full flow. He makes it extremely difficult for bowlers to stick to a particular line and length.
Sharma is also a more than handy left-arm orthodox spinner, and can be called upon to exercise his skills whenever his skipper feels the need for it.
The Punjab all-rounder knows that he has to cement his place in the Indian side by putting up consistent performances. But if the early signs are anything to go by, he is destined for a big future.
As India navigates the transition from the experienced trio of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja to the promising talents of Washington Sundar, Rinku Singh and Abhishek Sharma, the future of Indian T20 cricket looks bright. These young players seem ready to step up and fill the void, bringing their unique skills and fresh energy to the field and embodying the spirit of Royal Green’s, “Taste the Success.”
Just like these rising stars, Royal Green stands for excellence and triumph, celebrating the journey and achievements of those who strive for greatness.