mid-day.com looks at five India players who will want to stake a claim for the T20 World Cup with an impressive show in the T20I series against Sri Lanka starting Sunday
Prithvi Shaw, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan and Deepak Chahar
Prithvi Shaw
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Prithvi Shaw. Pic/AFP
Prithvi Shaw is all set to make his T20I debut against Sri Lanka. The Mumbai lad started the ODI series against Sri Lanka on a positive note, scoring 43 off just 24 deliveries. He failed in the second game but came back strongly to score a run-a-ball 49 in the third ODI. The right-handed batsman would like to take his ODI form (105 in three matches) into the T20I series as this could probably be his last chance to impress the selectors before the T20 World Cup.
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Sanju Samson
Sanju Samson. Pic/AP, PTI
Having made his T20I debut in 2015, Sanju Samson has so far played just seven matches for India in the shortest format of the game. Samson, who made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka on Friday, has been in and out of the squad since making an international comeback last year. The wicketkeeper-batsman was impressive in the now-suspended IPL-14, scoring 277 runs in seven matches, including one century for Rajasthan Royals. He has an opportunity to prove a point by scoring big in T20I series
Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan. Pic/AFP
Ishan Kishan had a dream ODI debut against Sri Lanka last week, scoring 59 off 42 balls. Kishan, who started his ODI career with a first-ball six, has the ability to score quickly and put the opposition out of the game within a few overs. The wicketkeeper-batsman, who has played four international white-ball games, will look to carry the momentum into the T20I series and impress the national selectors.
Deepak Chahar
Deepak Chahar. Pic/BCCI
Right-arm medium pacer Deepak Chahar impressed one and all, not just with the ball, but also with the bat by guiding India home with an unbeaten 69 in the second ODI against Sri Lanka. He will be desperate to prove that he is an all-rounder in the making and not just a one-match wonder with the bat. The pacer also played a pivotal role with the ball, claiming four wickets in two ODIs.
Varun Chakravarthy
Varun Chakravarthy. Pic/BCCI, IPL
Varun Chakravarthy could make his international debut during the T20I series. With the T20 World Cup just a few months away, the Kolkata Knight Riders leg-spinner, who missed an opportunity during the T20Is against Australia and home series against England due to fitness issues, will be confident of putting up a solid show with the only chance to stake a claim for the mega T20 event in the UAE.
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