5 players India can consider including in the squad for the tour of Zimbabwe

India’s tour of Zimbabwe comes at a time when Indian cricket faces more questions than answers after suffering a humiliating loss at the hands of Bangladesh. The Indian captain has offered to step down if needed, the head coach is yet to be appointed and a few non-performers have come under scrutiny. All of a sudden, a side which did well in the World Cup is looking vulnerable and exposed. The Zimbabwe tour is most likely to take place after a week of doubts arising from a row between BCCI and the broadcaster. As the Indian selectors sit down to announce the squad for the 3 ODIs and 1 T20, they might rest some tired legs, fatigued after a long season of international cricket and IPL.The axe might fall on some, allowing the wise men of Indian cricket to gauge the bench strength. Let us have a look at the 5 players, out of a vast pool, who could make the cut in this squad.The players’ recent performances in the four shorter formats ( Vijay Hazare trophy, Deodhar trophy, IPL and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy) is what I have considered for this list. The performances in Ranji Trophy, Irani Trophy and Duleep Trophy shouldn’t have a bearing on this selection as some of the players doing good there might be suited only for the longer format.

#5 Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer batting for Delhi Daredevils in the IPL

Key Statistics of Shreyas Iyer in 2014-15

Series	Runs	Average
Vijay Hazare Trophy	273	54.60
IPL	439	33.96

At 2.6 crores, Shreyas Iyer was bought for the highest value for any uncapped player in IPL 2015. Playing for Delhi Daredevils, Iyer made every penny of that auction amount worth it. If the impressive Vijay Hazare Trophy ton against Gujarat brought Iyer into attention, his consistent run in IPL opened gates of stardom. Iyer’s neat hitting and attractive strokeplay was one of the highlights of IPL 2015. Of all his lightning knocks, the 56-ball 83 against Mumbai Indians remains the crowning moment.

If Dhawan is rested for the tour, Iyer could well be handed a call-up despite only one season in domestic cricket. Pravin Amre has played a key role in grooming the young Mumbai batsman, which serves as his certificate of batsmanship. Given a chance, Iyer would leave no stone unturned to display the fireworks at the top of the order.

#4 Mayank Agarwal

Mayank Agarwal batting for Delhi Daredevils in the IPL

Key statistics of Mayank Agarwal in 2014-15

Series	Runs	Average
Vijay Hazare Trophy	425	60.85
Deodhar Trophy	121	60.5
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy	166	41.5

Another Delhi Daredevil opener in IPL 2015 who has shown promising signs, besides Shreyas Iyer, has been Mayank Agarwal. He has been in the reckoning for quite some time now and has consistently scored well despite doubts raised over his technique and lack of footwork. An aggressive batsman, Agarwal might have pushed his case by converting a lot of starts in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2015. His 163 against Andhra Pradesh, a blistering knock, along with the team-mate Manish Pandey helped Karnataka to a huge win.

With Shreyas Iyer and Mayank Agarwal fighting for the opening slot, chances of both making the cut are thin. What could hamper Agarwal’s chances is the lack of textbook shots in his armoury. Also, he failed to convert good starts in IPL and only ended up averaging 23. If the selectors decide on resting just one regular opener between Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma, Agarwal might have to twiddle thumbs a little longer.

#3 Manoj Tiwary

India’s Manoj Tiwary batting against Sri Lanka in 2012

Key statistics of Manoj Tiwary in 2014-15

Series	Runs	Average
Deodhar Trophy	226	113.0
Vijay Hazare Trophy	302	60.4

Injuries have always played spoilsport for Manoj Tiwary. The excitement of his first national call-up for Bangladesh tour many years back was cut short by an injury. Perhaps, at 29, Tiwary should have been the backbone of Indian batting in all formats, but that was not to be. The good part is that Tiwary might have done enough last season to impress the selectors for another inclusion in the Indian ODI squad.

With runs in both List A competitions – Vijay Hazare and Deodhar trophy, the odds might tilt in his favour. The memorable 151 against North Zone was one of the highlights of his season.

His indifferent showing in the limited opportunities he got in the IPL might act against his favour however.

#2 Sandeep Sharma

Sandeep Sharma is congratulated by teammates during the U-19 World Cup in 2012

Key Statistics of Sandeep Sharma in 2014-15

Series	Wickets	Average
Vijay Hazare Trophy	17	15.52
Syed Mushtaq Ali	11	17.22
IPL	13	26.92
Deodhar Trophy	3	16.33

Among all young fast bowlers in the country, Sandeep Sharma is definitely leading the pecking order. The 22-year-old bowler from Patiala is known for swinging the ball and for maintaining miserly economy rates. Sandeep Sharma has done tremendously well in final overs, something Bhuvaneshwar Kumar has struggled with. Sharma’s impressive run with ball could make selectors pick him, keeping in mind that Irfan Pathan, a bowler of the same mould, had once showcased his swinging acumen in Zimbabwe in full bloom.

Sandeep’s selection could have happenned in 2014 after a good showing in IPL 2014 but a stress fracture in the back forced him to sit out of India A ‘s tour of Australia. With age on his side and ample of achievements on his CV to show, the selectors will most likely hand Sandeep a ticket to ZImbabwe.

#1 Pankaj Singh

India’s Pankaj Singh in action against England in 2014

Key statistics of Pankaj Singh in 2014-15

Series	Wickets	Average
Vijay Hazare Trophy	14	11.28
Deodhar Trophy	5	9.0

If there is one bowler who has been knocking on Indian doors for years, it has to be Pankaj Singh. Over the past five years, Pankaj Singh has consistenly been in the top-wicket takers lists across Indian domestic competitions at wafer-thin averages. Perhaps the unlucky series against England where his wickets tally never spoke of his efforts, has been the way his career turned out. As a List A bowler, Pankaj has improved dramatically, bringing a marked difference in his List A statistics.

What could go against Pankaj is his image of a first class bowler who bowls at good line and length. Also, Pankaj is not the quickest of fielders in the ground, a factor that prevented someone like VVS Laxman to cement place in the ODI team. With 30 years behind him, Pankaj still has a good 4-5 years of cricket left and his performance might work against all the factors that prevent his selection – age, image, lack of agility and the biggest of them all, luck.