5 Indian cricketers who could use India-Australia series to make it to the World T20

After winning the inaugural edition of the World T20, India had fallen off the radar in the T20 circuit for a while, despite revolutionizing ‘commercial cricket’ with IPL. However, MS Dhoni’s men gave a good account of themselves in the last edition, entering into the Finals as favourites only to lose the plot after beginning extremely well.Sri Lanka chased down the paltry 134, with Virat Kohli’s sublime 77 ending in vain and Yuvraj’s career taking a dip after his 21 ball 11 in the slog over struggle earned fans’ ire. He has a chance to redeem himself now as India look to test their strength prior to the 2016 World T20 in India by playing 3 T20 Internationals. India ranked 2nd in Tests as well as ODIs is placed a lowly 7th in T20 ICC Rankings and it didn’t help that they lost both the T20s at home against the visiting South African team recently.The India-Australia series could be vital for five players who are currently on the fringes of selection and have to do everything in their power to make the most of any opportunity that comes their way. While each of them has their fair share of supporters and detractors, there is no denying that they all have something to offer to the team including a solution to at least one of several problems that plague India’s T20I cricket. 

#1 Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj astonished the world by hitting 6 sixes of a Stuart Broad’s over in World T20 2007

At one point, Yuvraj Singh was miles ahead of Ravindra Jadeja in terms of talent, potential and likability. The Player of the World Cup 2011 was peaking as an all-rounder before his health and form both failed him. Nevertheless, the Chandigarh-born is not new to comebacks and the 34-year-old is sure to get at least one game against Australia.

A veteran of 40 T20I with 968 runs, Yuvraj is at the cusp of a major milestone and boasts of an average and strike-rate combo of 31.22 and 144.69, which is near-Bradmanesque to say the least in the T20 world; not to mention the fastest T20 fifty (against England) ever in all games. Yuvraj didn’t have a great 2015 IPL with just 248 runs from 14 outings but it is a well-known fact that he saves his best for the games he appears in blue.

The swashbuckling batsman has plenty of cricket in him and at the back of some excellent domestic knocks in December, he might turn on the heat on pitches that suit his style of play – where the ball comes on to the bat, as long as he can deal with the bounce. He might be played as a pure batsman considering India will definitely have Ravindra Jadeja in the playing XI, but Dhoni’s preference for the extra bowling option could be an added lifeline for Yuvraj.