An alternate squad from this year’s IPL that can give the main India T20 team a run for their money!
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is at the halfway stage. It’s the two-month bonanza that brings life to a standstill at 1930 hrs IST every day. Fans cheer for their hometown teams but also celebrate the performance of their favourite players. You always have the usual suspects doing well- but here are a squad of fifteen players who I think can give a tough fight to the main India T20 World Champions, and dare I say even beat them! Such is the embarrassment of riches for India in the T20 format now.
Presenting the IPL- Indian Possibilites League- an alternate squad that is taking the tournament by storm.
Starting with the baby giant, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi– holder of two of the three fastest centuries in IPL ever, all at fifteen years of age. Vaibhav is a serious talent with everyone asking when he will make it to the India team, not whether. Someone who can tonk Bumrah for two sixes in the first three balls he faced- surely has talent! He is the one for the future.
With him, my fellow opener will be Prabhsimran Singh– one half of the fabled Prabharya that is taking the tournament by storm and Punjab Kings to the summit. He hit six fours in an over vs Delhi recently and helped Punjab get 116 runs in six overs of power play. Scarcely believable! And with him in the team, the keeper’s gloves are in safe hands.
My no.3 will be Devdutt Padikkal– he has rediscovered himself this IPL, after a stellar domestic season. Coming to bat early or a little late, DDP has found the next gear this IPL to ensure that the game keeps moving. It’s also always delightful to see a leftie tonk the bowling- they somehow look so much better than their right handed counter parts.
Next will be Rajat Patidar– inspirational RCB skipper who has helped them continue the momentum with amazing ball striking through the middle overs. He is especially good vs spin which ensures that the run rate stays high during the middle overs.
My no.5 and captain will be Shreyas Iyer– I think the most unlucky player not be in the T20 World Cup India original team. Shreyas is the only player to lead three different IPL teams to the final. He helped KKR lift the cup two seasons back- how they released him is a story for another day! One of the best players of spin, Shreyas has also mastered the chasing game this IPL to successfully close out games for Punjab- which will be an asset for this team. His relay catch vs MI was one of the best fielding moments thus far in the IPL. He also just owns the ground with his attitude.
Balancing the team at no.6 is Nitish Kumar Reddy– a good finisher who can stabilize the batting if there is a collapse. Also, has improved his bowling considerably this year- can give you two overs in the powerplay or the same in the middle overs. It is very difficult to find genuine all rounders these days- he is the best in the league currently after Hardik.
Next is Krunal Pandya– the man for all seasons. One of the most street smart cricketers playing the game. If his left arm orthodox don’t get you, his bouncers just may! And a good finisher to hit a 8 ball 20 or one to stabilize the innings if there is a collapse. The man for a big day- Man of the Match in two IPL finals already.
The bowling starts with Ravi Bishnoi– who is doing really well this time with his skiddy bowling, unorthodox action and googlies. Then it will be Bhuvneshwar Kumar– who is still ruling the roost with the swing he is getting with the new ball. The inswing which got the Delhi opener this week was one of the balls of the season- and set up the 75 innings rout! Completing the bowling line up are two Lucknow finds- Prince Yadav and Mohsin Khan. Bharat Arun, the LSG Bowling Coach is one of my favourite characters. The Indian test team had the best away bowling test team under him. He has done a great job in shaping Prince and Mohsin. Prince has consistently taken wickets this year- bowling a couple of overs in the power play and then finishing up in the slog overs. Mohsin is one of the most talented bowlers going around. He is a menace, if he is fit. Ask KKR, against them he took a 5-fer this week.
Overall, a good balance in the team with three lefties in the top seven. Also a left arm pacer complementing two right armers. And two different types of spinners and two genuine all rounders balancing the team.
We also have four players who just missed the cut- but make it to the squad of fifteen.
Priyansh Arya is the back up opener. A person who can hit six sixes in an over- in a local domestic T20 event- sure has firepower. His stand and deliver game is taking IPL by storm.
The back up keeper is Dhruv Jurel– a great wicket keeper and a reliable no.3 for Rajasthan this year.
The back up pacer is Mohammed Shami– who just needs to get back to the India team for the SA ODI World Cup- just check his record in the last World Cup! He has played the full domestic season with Bengal and having a good IPL especially bowling economically in the power play and also getting wickets.
To complete the squad, I have Shivang Kumar- left arm Chinamen bowlers bring the X factor into the game.
Such is the strength of the Indian team in the T20 format that you won’t find the following players in my team or the Indian Team that won the World Cup- Shubman Gill, Sai Sudarshan, KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Prasidh Krishna and Yuzi Chahal– to name a few.
But coming back to my fifteen, I am pretty sure that this team will make the last four if there is a fictitious next T20 World Cup. And then when they play the main Indian team in the knockout, who do you think will win? My money will be safely in my pocket.
Silly Point 