5 players that Team India needs to invest in for ICC Men's T20 World Cup in 2020

These five young players should be given chances in the Indian team for the World T20 2020.

The next edition of the ICC T20 World Cup will be played in the year 2020 and will be hosted by Australia. The last edition was played 2016 and was hosted by India, which saw the West Indies win their second WT20 title, beating England in the finals at Eden Gardens.

With more than a year to go for the next edition, every team has a lot of time to prepare for the tournament with ease and similarly, Indian team might also want to keep an eye out for younger and fresher talent for the ICC’s T20 World Cup.

The last T20 World Cup in 2016, India managed to reach the semifinals of the tournament where they lost to eventual champions West Indies and much of the faces that participated in that tournament, may also be available for the 2020 event. India, however, needs to move on from tried and tested faces and start the process of a new look T20 batting side for 2020 World Cup.

Keeping this in mind, Team COC presents to you 5 players that Team India needs to invest in for ICC T20 World Cup 2020

NITISH RANA
The Delhi captain Nitish Rana has been one of the brightest stars in the domestic scene of the late. He first broke onto the scene in the 2015-16 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, scoring 299 runs and 21 sixes. He then came into limelight for his exploits in the Indian Premier League playing for Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders. So far in 65 T20 matches, Rana has scored 1426 runs with a best of 97 and a strike rate of 135.42.

The left-handed middle-order batsman has been in top form off the late and was handed Delhi’s captaincy for the full-time. Rana is also a handy off-spinner capable of breaking partnerships and is perfect for someone Indian team always looks for, batsmen who can bowl as well.

Rana is one of the best bets to strengthening the middle order of the Indian team keeping the 2020 T20 World Cup in mind and someone the team management should give chances and invest in.

ISHAN KISHAN
Ishan Kishan captained the India U19 side to the finals of the youth World Cup in 2016 and since then has shined brightly for the Jharkhand team in domestic cricket and for Gujarat Lions and Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League.

The left-handed batsman and wicketkeeper has 1407 runs in 58 T20 matches with a best of 113* and recently became only the second Indian to score two back-to-back centuries in the ongoing 2019 Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy. He can keep wickets or field in the outfield with equal skills and has been a dangerous batsman at the top of the innings while batting in top three.

SHUBMAN GILL
Young Punjabi batsman Shubman Gill recently made his India debut against New Zealand, but however has made most of his fame for the India U19 side, which won the Youth World Cup in 2018. Gill was the top scorer for the Indian team and the Player of the Tournament.

Gill then earned an IPL contract with Kolkata Knight Riders and performed admirably for the team in the chances he got. Since then, Gill has been terrific for the Punjab side in the domestic scene, scoring a career-best FC score of 268. A natural timer of the ball, Gill is definitely the batsman team India should give more chances at no.3 in the T20 format, as he has the skills to accelerate whenever he wants or anchor the innings in a tricky chase.

PRITHVI SHAW
Prithvi Shaw has been compared to the great Sachin Tendulkar given his exploits in the domestic scene and the handful of Tests he has played. Shaw became the first Indian after Sachin Tendulkar to score centuries on debut in Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy. He was the captain of the 2018 U19 World Cup winning India team and transitioned into the senior team with ease, scoring a century on Test debut against West Indies.

Shaw is a naturally gifted batsman who has a penchant to play aggressively, something he showed on his IPL debut for Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals) in IPL 2018. He is currently returning from an ankle injury and will be looking forward to scoring heavily in the T20 tournament. Shaw has already become the first-choice test opener and its time for him to be introduced in the limited overs format as well.

SHREYAS IYER

Mumbai’s Shreyas Iyer may be a victim of random selection policies of BCCI selectors, as he has not been given the long run that he deserves. Though he has played 6 ODIs and 6 T20Is for the Indian team, Iyer still missed out from being a long-term member of the Indian team.

However, he has kept scoring loads of runs in domestic cricket for Mumbai and has led the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2018 and has been named the captain of the franchise for the 2019 season as well. In 78 T20 matches, Iyer has scored 2164 runs with a strike rate of 135.08 and a best of 147.

His 147 came in the ongoing 2019 Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 trophy, which is the highest T20 score by any Indian in the format. He also hit 15 sixes in his innings, the most by any Indian in a T20 innings. He then scored another century in 55 balls, a 103*, his second in three innings.

It is high time, the Indian team gives him another chance to prove himself and be a part of the team in the 2020 T20 World Cup.