3 players from the current Indian ODI squad who might struggle to make a comeback

India will next play ODIs against South Africa at home.

Indian team’s elation of winning the T20I series against New Zealand 5-0 came down pretty fast, as they were routed 3-0 in the ODI series which followed the 20-over games. It was India’s first whitewash after 31 years and first against New Zealand since 1981.

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There were some players who made a name for themselves. Shreyas Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, and KL Rahul were some of the success stories that came out of the depressing outing the Men in Blue had in the ODIs. Unfortunately, there were some players who failed to live up to the reputation and their performances well below expectations.

Therefore, Team COC lists three players whose poor performance in the ODI series might make it difficult for them to make a comeback in the 50-over format, the next time India plays South Africa at home in an ODI series.

Here are the three players who might find it difficult to come back into ODI side in future

KEDAR JADHAV

Kedar Jadhav has been very good for the Indian team right until the 2019 World Cup. But since then, he is not in the scheme of things when it comes to T20Is and not in the frame for the upcoming T20 World Cup. At 34-years-old, he is not getting any younger and his utility of off-spin bowling was not used by Virat Kohli against New Zealand.

He may very well be out of contention for the next ODI World Cup, which will be played in India in 2023 and with him not doing anything spectacular in the New Zealand ODI series, it is difficult for him to continue in the format for the Indian team. Also, there is the issue of his extremely delicate hamstrings, which have made him slow on the field and in between wickets as well.

SHARDUL THAKUR

Shardul Thakur had a decent enough T20I series against New Zealand, where he managed to defend 21 runs in the fifth T20I and overall had a decent performance in the whole series. However, everything unraveled when he played the ODI series, as he was preferred by Virat Kohli for his ability to tonk a few runs down the order.

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Unfortunately, he failed in his primary skill of bowling, giving away 80, 60 and 87 runs for just four wickets in the three games and his expensive two overs in the final ODI cost India the match, as they had pulled back the match somewhat thanks to bowling efforts of Chahal. Thakur has been on the radar of fans and experts equally for his poor bowling performance and giving away easy runs.

Once Bhuvneshwar Kumar comes back from his injury and Navdeep Saini showing good signs on learning on the go, it might be difficult for Shardul to make a comeback into the ODI team.

MAYANK AGARWAL

Mayank Agarwal finally made his long-awaited ODI debut in the New Zealand series but failed to handle the swinging deliveries from Kiwi bowlers. He was found out in the corridor of uncertainty and made only 32, 3 and 1. He had come off a pair against New Zealand A in the first unofficial Test match in Christchurch.

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This performance brings more headaches to the Indian team management as they are already missing Rohit Sharma for the Test series and this means Mayank will be the more experienced partner when India takes on Kiwis in the first Test match.

However, there is a spot for a backup opener going forward with KL Rahul settled in the middle order. But given his form and rise of Shubman Gill and Prithvi Shaw, who showed more maturity in the recently concluded series; Mayank might find it difficult to make a space for himself, as India return to playing ODI cricket, at home.