4 players who became excellent in T20 after getting sidelined from Tests

With three formats in the game, management has to take a call or draw a line between each format clearly. Due to workload and mixing of format-specific skills, a few players could struggle. In some cases, when given clarity of formats, players have done well. On that note, in this article, we take a look at 4 players who became excellent in T20 after getting sidelined from Tests.

If players have injury issues, they usually tend to pick one format and only focus on them. It has happened to a few cricketers already. Since they have been successful, a few others could also follow the same path.

1) Jos Buttler

Jos Buttler is one of the players who became excellent in T20 after getting sidelined from Tests. Around a year ago, Buttler was a consistent part of Test XI. However, after England's form suffered, he was dropped from the Test squad. The likes of Ben Foakes are now getting the chance to don the gloves in red-ball cricket. Meanwhile, Buttler has become an elite opener and after his exclusion from Tests, he top-scored in IPL 2022 and is one of the most dangerous T20 batters in the game.

2) Hardik Pandya

It is more of an injury reason why Hardik has been sidelined from Tests. Looking at his injury record and the way he has been performing in T20s, he might not be selected for Tests soon. Moreover, in overseas Tests, India has found an ideal combination that might not need the services of Hardik as the medium-pace-bowling all-rounder. In parallel, he is hitting his peak as a T20 cricketer and hence, may not feature in Tests.

3) Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvi is also one of the players who became excellent in T20 after getting sidelined from Tests. It was way back in 2018 that Bhuvi last played a Test. Like Hardik, for him, too, it is for injury reasons that a Test place has not come about. Bhuvi has been terrific in T20Is this year and due to his vulnerability to injuries, he might not get selected to Tests. India anyways has a fine pace attack for Test cricket.

4) Dushmantha Chameera

The Sri Lankan speedster last played a Test way back in November last year. Since then, he has either missed Tests due to injury or has been sidelined altogether. At least, for the recent Tests, he was not at all considered. However, during this while, he has developed as a great T20 bowler. Even in IPL, he had delivered some unplayable overs. If he remains injury-free, Chameera will be even more dangerous. Hence, Chameera is also a part of this list of players who became excellent in T20 after getting sidelined from Tests.