5 Indian players in the ODI setup but not in the T20I squad
Right now, Team India is more focused on T20s than ODIs. However, after the end of the 2022 T20 World Cup, the management is likely to shift all its attention to the 50-over format. The 2023 ODI World Cup is scheduled in India and the hosts will be under pressure to win the competition. On that note, in this article, we take a look at five Indian players in the ODI setup but not in the T20I squad.
The management has made a few moves which suggest a clear line between the ODI squad and the T20I squad. Of course, there are a lot of common players but there are a few who are restricted only to the ODI format. The 50-over version does require some skillset which does not always have be to necessary in the T20 format. Hence, Rahul Dravid and co. have made the conscious decision of including a few players only in the ODI format and having other cricketers in their place when it comes to the shortest format of the game.
1) Shikhar Dhawan
Shikhar Dhawan is one of the Indian players in the ODI setup but not in the T20I squad. Based on the recent decisions by the selectors, it can be concluded that Dhawan may not play T20I cricket for India. The likes of Ishan Kishan and Rishabh Pant are the left-handed opening options that are being groomed. However, in ODIs, it seems that Dhawan would be part of the squad at least till the 2023 World Cup. In fact, he will captain India in the upcoming West Indies series and this should tell a lot about the idea of the management.
2) Mohammed Shami
The Indian pacer is a sure starter in the five-day format and he also holds a similar position in ODIs. It seems that he is not in the plans of T20I cricket, going by the squad selections for recent tournaments. Shami has been brilliant in the ODI format off late. Hence, it is a good decision that has been taken by the management.
3) Prasidh Krishna
Just like Shami, Prasidh is also currently restricted to the ODI format. He did well in the home tournaments in this format. Therefore, he has been included in the ODI squad but the likes of Avesh Khan and Arshdeep Singh are selected for the T20 unit. Hence, the Karnataka speedster is also part of this list of Indian players in the ODI setup but not in the T20I squad.
4) Mohammed Siraj
Siraj did not have a great IPL 2022 and was dropped from the T20 squad. However, he has been selected for the ODI squad. This clearly means that he is being developed for the 50-over format. It also suits him well because he can be dangerous at the start with an extended spell.
5) Shardul Thakur
At the moment, Shardul Thakur is also one of the Indian players in the ODI setup but not in the T20I squad. He is leaking far too many runs in T20Is and hence, he has been ignored. However, it seems that he has a good chance in the ODI format. Considering the Mumbai cricketer offers good batting value at No.8, it could be a wise investment by India considering the 2023 WC will be held in India.