5 players who would be disappointed after the World T20 squad announcement

With the ICC World T20 2016 just a month away, the Indian squad for the tournament and the first ever T20 Asia Cup has been announced. Barring a few notable exceptions, the squad bears a pretty identical look to the one that whitewashed Australia at their home recently.Most of the players really picked themselves in the team not only because they are regular members of Team India, but also based on some heartening performances Down Under. The squad also includes players who did not get much scope to show their skills on the Australia tour.However, as has been the case with almost every Indian team announcement, there are bound to be players who will be feeling hard done by their exclusion. Here are 5 Indian players who may not welcome the Asia Cup and World T20 squad declaration:

#5 Umesh Yadav

Yadav has not got enough chances in T20I cricket

True, Umesh Yadav did not bowl well despite getting to play all games in the ODI series against Australia. However, he did not get a game in the 3-match T20I series and now he finds himself out of the squad for the Asia Cup and World Twenty20.

Yadav must be aggrieved at how things have panned out for him, considering that he has been left out without getting a chance to prove himself. The selectors have risked a half-fit Mohammad Shami in the squad, but were not inclined to give the Vidarbha pacer a look-in.

Come the 2016 edition of the IPL, Umesh Yadav will look to rest all doubts that the selection committee has about his ability as a T20 bowler.

#4 Amit Mishra

Mishra was an integral part of India’s World Twenty20 squad in 2014

Despite being a regular feature in India’s Test squad these days, Amit Mishra continues to be ignored for the limited-over formats. Mishra has put up some credible performances every time he has been given a chance in ODIs and T20Is and a quick look at his stats gives you ample proof of this fact.

The Haryana leg-spinner has claimed 49 wickets in 31 ODIs at an average of 26.44 and an economy of under 5. In T20Is, Mishra has played 7 games to pick up 11 wickets and boasts of an economy rate of 6.46, which is exceptional in T20 cricket.

Amit Mishra is bound to be unhappy at his exclusion from the team for the Asia Cup and the ICC World Twenty20, considering the fact that he recently did quite brilliantly in domestic cricket. What Mishra can look forward to now is the IPL and the numerous home Tests lined up in the year ahead.

#3 Irfan Pathan

Pathan’s comeback in domestic cricket has been emphatic

One of India’s stars in their triumph at the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in 2007, Irfan Pathan, has been out of favour for the national team for quite a few years. Loss of form and injuries have had their part to play, but Irfan has battled all his issues to make a rip-roaring comeback to domestic cricket.

After decent returns in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Pathan raised his game to the next level in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament with a tremendous all-round performance. With talks about his comeback to the Indian team doing the rounds, the squad announcement for the Asia Cup and World Twenty20 may arrive as a rude shock for the 31-year old.

Irfan Pathan could have easily occupied one of the seamer slots in the team with batting serving as an added bonus, however, the selectors look simply uninterested in the Baroda allrounder. However, consistently good performances in the future may help Pathan force his way through to national selection.

#2 Axar Patel

Patel’s form in domestic cricket has been rip-roaring to say the least

Gujarat allrounder Axar Patel is one of the players who may not be too happy with the announcement of India’s squad for the Asia Cup and World Twenty20. Patel has been on fire in domestic cricket of late, particularly in the Vijay Hazare Trophy where his efforts helped his domestic side clinch their maiden title.

To add to it, the left-arm spinner has not done too badly in the limited opportunities he has received in international cricket. However, ever since Ravindra Jadeja has returned to the Indian scheme of things in limited-overs cricket as well, Axar has quickly gone out of favour.

The saddest part of the story is that while the 22-year old could not be fitted into the team due to Jadeja’s presence, the selectors have opted for another left-arm spinner in the form of Pawan Negi. On a positive note, though, Axar Patel is still very young and has every opportunity to break into the team again.

#1 Manish Pandey

Pandey scored a brilliant hundred to help India chase down 331

Everything looked in order for Manish Pandey to represent India at the ICC World Twenty20 when he smashed his maiden century leading India to their only victory in the ODI series against Australia. However, Pandey’s name is nowhere to be found in the Indian squad for the Asia Cup and World Twenty20.

The 26-year old Karnataka batsman has every reason to be disappointed as he has been snubbed despite a stellar performance in only his 3rd ODI. What’s worse is that Pandey is someone known to be a T20 specialist, so it is even more baffling not to have him in the squad for the shortest format.

For now, though, Manish Pandey will have to look forward to the 9th edition of the IPL, which follows the World Twenty20, in order to prove a point or two to the selectors.