IPL 2014: The Expendables - 5 players who can make a comeback to Team India

Rejection is part and parcel of professional sport. It calls upon the individual sportsman to prove himself yet again, be it fighting an injury or a dip in performance levels, and if taken with a positive attitude can spur a redeeming revival. While making a comeback can be about adapting to changing physical conditions, recovering from injuries and reinventing oneself in terms of technical ability, it is more often than not a mental challenge that requires rejuvenation of motivation.

Mitchell Johnson’s recent exploits against England in the Ashes were an outstanding example of what a change of attitude, self-belief, and confidence can bring to performance at the highest stage.

The Indian team went through a period of transition in both formats of the game in 2013 as senior players made way for some new faces. The likes of Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Shami Ahmed and Bhuvneshwar Kumar took their chances to establish themselves in the Indian side that is taking shape for a difficult season of Test cricket abroad and the World Cup in 2015.

However, in the midst of these success stories is also the comeback of pacer Zaheer Khan who is in contention once again after he put in a number of pleasing domestic performances. Dhawan went through a period of relative obscurity after his international debut but has displayed his many qualities in 2013. The door is never closed for those who never stop trying.

The list of probables for the T-20 World Cup to be played in March this year in Bangladesh has been announced and some prominent names are missing. The Indian Premier League that is now around the corner, contributed a great deal to this list with the likes of Rajat Bhatia, Stuart Binny, Sanju Samson and Karan Sharma making the cut primarily on the grounds of their impressive IPL performances. Not all of these are young cricketers, and there is no reason why we must discriminate against experienced players as long as they perform. The selection of Rajat Bhatia, who is 34, particularly indicates that there is life after 30 in international cricket.

Michael Hussey and Chris Rogers are prominent examples of cricketers who come to mind when one thinks of players who have made significant entries into international cricket at an unlikely age, and with success. Such players can provide motivation to a set of Indians who have been pushed to the margins due to their less than ordinary performances in recent times. They will be looking to make a comeback to the Indian team through the exceptional platform that is the Indian Premier League.

Here is a look at five such players who can make a comeback into the Indian cricket team using IPL as the platform.