With the build-up to the T20 World Cup next year already starting for most teams, India is also focusing on getting the lineup right. After their 50-over World Cup 2019 dreams were shattered by New Zealand in the semi-finals, the Men in Blue will look to win a major trophy with a positive and fully fit side for the 2020 T20 World Cup.
In this context, the 2020 T20 World Cup in Australia may see several young players being given a chance to showcase their skills on the biggest stage of all. However, there are 3 high-profile Indian players who may not be part of the team at this mega event.
MS Dhoni – Will he? Won’t he? The rumours are intensifying about MS Dhoni’s retirement post a mixed bag in terms of performances at the 2019 ICC World Cup. Many feel that MS Dhoni may not be around at next year’s T20 World Cup. With Rishabh Pant being groomed to take over the mantle and young Turks like Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson coming up as potent T20 players, Dhoni may have played his last T20I game feel several experts. Dhoni has taken a 2 month break with Pant being given the chance to shine in his absence.
MS Dhoni Career Stats-
(Batting)
| Format | M | Inn | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | BF | BF | SR | 100s | 50s |
| Test | 90 | 144 | 16 | 4876 | 224 | 38.1 | 8249 | 265 | 59.1 | 6 | 33 |
| ODI | 350 | 297 | 84 | 10773 | 183* | 50.6 | 12303 | 145 | 87.6 | 10 | 73 |
| T20I | 98 | 85 | 42 | 1617 | 56 | 37.6 | 1282 | 36 | 126.1 | 0 | 2 |
In the T20 World Cup, Dhoni has played 33 matches, notching up 529 runs at an average of 35.26 with a highest score of 45.
Wicket keeping Stats-
| Format | Catches | Run Outs | Stumpings |
| Test | 256 | 3 | 38 |
| ODI | 321 | 22 | 123 |
| T20I | 57 | 8 | 34 |
In his 33 matches at the T20 World Cup, MSD has effected 11 stumpings and taken 21 catches in all.
Suresh Raina – The dashing left-hander was earlier perceived as the country’s best batsman in T20Is. He has been hugely successful for his franchise CSK (Chennai Super Kings) in the IPL over the years too. Raina is however out of the reckoning for the 2020 T20 World Cup as felt by many owing to his lack of consistency, especially at IPL 2019 (383 runs at an average of 23.50) and fitness issues. He last played T20Is for India in 2018 against England where he did not match up well to bouncers and other swinging deliveries. Raina was the country’s first batsman to notch up a century in T20Is although he is unlikely to make it to the Indian team for next year’s mega event. In the T20 World Cup, he has scored 453 runs in 26 games at an average of just over 25 and with a highest score of 101.
Suresh Raina Career Stats-
(Batting)
| Format | M | Inn | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | BF | BF | SR | 100s | 50s |
| Test | 18 | 31 | 2 | 768 | 120 | 26.5 | 1445 | 228 | 53.1 | 1 | 7 |
| ODI | 226 | 194 | 35 | 5615 | 116* | 35.3 | 6005 | 107 | 93.5 | 5 | 36 |
| T20I | 78 | 66 | 11 | 1605 | 101 | 29.2 | 1190 | 60 | 134.9 | 1 | 5 |
(Bowling)
| Format | M | Inn | B | Mdn | Runs | W | BB | Econ | Avg | SR | 4W | 5W |
| Test | 18 | 22 | 1041 | 22 | 603 | 13 | 2/1 | 3.47 | 46.4 | 80.1 | 0 | 0 |
| ODI | 226 | 101 | 2126 | 5 | 1811 | 36 | 3/34 | 5.11 | 50.3 | 59.0 | 0 | 0 |
| T20I | 78 | 27 | 349 | 0 | 442 | 13 | 2/6 | 7.59 | 34.0 | 26.8 | 0 | 0 |
Raina in the T20 World Cup- 5 wickets in 26 games.
R Ashwin – Ravichandran Ashwin has been a senior statesman of the Indian team for a very long time. However, he has been dropped from the ODI team in recent years in spite of his excellent bowling figures and ability to bat well at crucial times. He is unlikely to be a starter at the 2020 T20 World Cup as opined by many since Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal have already cemented their places with the third spinner’s position being taken by Ravindra Jadeja after his spectacular all-round show at the ICC World Cup 2019.
R Ashwin Career Stats-
(Bowling)
| Format | M | Inn | B | Mdn | Runs | W | BB | Econ | Avg | SR | 4W | 5W |
| Test | 65 | 122 | 18372 | 629 | 8700 | 342 | 7/59 | 2.84 | 25.4 | 53.7 | 16 | 26 |
| ODI | 111 | 109 | 6021 | 35 | 4937 | 150 | 4/25 | 4.91 | 32.9 | 40.1 | 1 | 0 |
| T20I | 46 | 46 | 1026 | 2 | 1193 | 52 | 4/8 | 6.97 | 22.9 | 19.7 | 2 | 0 |
(Batting)
| Format | M | Inn | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | BF | BF | SR | 100s | 50s |
| Test
2011 |
65 | 93 | 12 | 2361 | 124 | 29.1 | 4308 | 210 | 54.8 | 4 | 11 |
| ODI
2010–17 |
111 | 61 | 19 | 675 | 65 | 16.1 | 776 | 46 | 87.0 | 0 | 1 |
| T20I
2010–17 |
46 | 11 | 7 | 123 | 31* | 30.8 | 115 | 24 | 107.0 | 0 | 0 |
T20 World Cup-
Matches- 15, Runs- 33, Highest Score- 16
Matches- 15- Wickets- 20, Best Bowling- 4/11