As the countdown to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup continues, we delve into the status of notable Indian players who have been absent from action. By Jonathan Healy
Mohammed Shami
Shami’s last appearance was in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup final against Australia in November 2023. Currently, he is racing against time to recover for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in June after undergoing ankle surgery in the UK, ruling him out of this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL).
Jasprit Bumrah
Rested for the recent fourth Test against England, Bumrah is anticipated to return for the fifth Test. He is expected to lead Mumbai Indians in the IPL and likely to feature prominently for India in the T20 World Cup.
Rishabh Pant
Despite a significant car accident, Pant has shown promising signs of recovery, aiming to participate in the early stages of this year’s IPL with Delhi Capitals, as hinted by coach Ricky Ponting. If his rehabilitation progresses well, he could feature in the T20 World Cup.
Hardik Pandya
Making a successful comeback from injury in the DY Patil T20 Cup, Pandya displayed promising form, indicating his readiness to lead Mumbai Indians in the IPL. A fit Pandya will be crucial for India’s T20 World Cup campaign.
Virat Kohli
Absent from the ongoing Test series against England due to personal reasons, Kohli could potentially return for IPL with Royal Challengers Bangalore and represent India in the T20 World Cup.
Shreyas Iyer
Dealing with back issues, Iyer’s form has been affected in the Test series against England. However, his track record in white-ball cricket suggests he’ll lead Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL and contend for a spot in India’s T20 World Cup squad.
Ishan Kishan
Despite not playing since the T20I series against Australia, Kishan is expected to feature for Mumbai Indians in the IPL, aiming to impress national selectors for a T20 World Cup berth.
KL Rahul
Despite limited appearances in the Test series against England, Rahul is likely to return for the IPL with Lucknow Super Giants and vie for a place in India’s T20 World Cup squad, given his stellar performances in previous tournaments.
Suryakumar Yadav
Recovering from groin surgery, Yadav is set to return for Mumbai Indians in the IPL and is earmarked as a key player for India’s T20 World Cup campaign.
