Selection Shockers: Who Missed India’s Cut for the Bangladesh T20I Series?

As the Indian cricket team gears up for the T20I series against Bangladesh, a few surprising omissions have raised eyebrows in the cricketing world. With the squad featuring a mix of young talent and experienced players, certain names that were expected to make the cut have been left out, despite their recent performances or potential. Here are three key players who missed out on India’s squad for the Bangladesh series.

Ruturaj Gaikwad

Ruturaj Gaikwad’s exclusion from the T20I series against Bangladesh comes as a shock, especially considering that he has been one of India's most consistent white-ball performers. Unlike Avesh Khan and Tilak Varma, Gaikwad is not missing out due to form or injury but because of his selection to lead the Rest of India team in the Irani Trophy against Mumbai, the reigning Ranji Trophy champions.

While the Irani Trophy is a prestigious domestic competition, international cricket generally takes precedence, especially T20Is, where Gaikwad’s skills as an opener could have been invaluable. With the likes of Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal rested for this series, Gaikwad would have been an ideal candidate to partner with Abhishek Sharma at the top of the order.

Avesh Khan

Avesh Khan has been one of India's standout pacers in recent times, particularly during the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL), where he showcased his all-phase bowling abilities for the Rajasthan Royals. Known for his skill at the death, Avesh’s capability to bowl in powerplays and middle overs makes him a versatile option in the T20 format.

In his last international T20I appearance, which was against Zimbabwe in July 2024, Avesh performed admirably, taking six wickets across the series. His consistency in domestic and international formats, coupled with his ability to handle pressure situations, should have kept him in contention for the upcoming Bangladesh series. Yet, the selectors have opted to leave him out, despite the fact that India’s squad includes three specialist fast bowlers and three pace-bowling all-rounders.

Tilak Varma

Tilak Varma’s omission from the Bangladesh T20I series is perhaps even more shocking given his meteoric rise in Indian cricket. At just 21 years old, the talented left-hander has already accumulated 20 T20I caps, becoming one of the brightest young prospects in India’s white-ball setup. Despite his evident potential, he remains on the fringes of the national team.

Tilak’s recent form has been solid. After recovering from an injury that hampered his IPL season, he made a comeback in the Duleep Trophy, where he scored a century in his very first game. With his ability to stabilize the middle order and accelerate when needed, Varma has all the qualities India could use in their T20I lineup, especially in a squad missing many first-choice players.

His absence from the squad is puzzling, particularly since this Bangladesh series offers the perfect platform for young players like him to step up in the absence of regulars. One would expect someone of Tilak’s caliber and potential to be a regular feature, especially in a second-string side.