Who could replace Ambati Rayudu for England tour?
Ambati Rayudu was one of the star performers in the IPL this season. The right-handed had a stellar campaign, notching 602 runs. His consistent performances earned him a call-up for India's ODI series against England. However, his comeback to the ODI squad has been dealt with a blow after he failed the Yo-Yo fitness test. Here are five players who could replace Rayudu.
Uncapped hero: Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav had the best IPL season of his career. Yadav, who played for Mumbai Indians this term, was given the task to open the innings and proved to be a revelation. The 27-year-old scored 512 runs for Mumbai and consistently provided steady starts. A versatile batsman, Suryakumar will be on the radar of the national selectors.
The middle-order rock: Kedar Jadhav
Kedar Jadhav has been a regular in India's ODI setup, but the 33-year-old hasn't played cricket in a while. His last international game was in South Africa against Proteas. Unfortunately, his IPL campaign was cut short following a hamstring injury in his very first game. However, he has passed the fitness test and is ready to roar.
The true Daredevil: Rishabh Pant
20-year-old Pant is the most deserving candidate in this list. It came as a shock to many when he was not named in the squad for England series. His scintillating performance for Daredevils saw him score 684 runs at a strike rate of 173.60. Pant might be young but looks in sublime form. However, with two wicket-keepers in the squad, he might be overlooked.
The Test specialist: Ajinkya Rahane
India's Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane is one of the best batsmen in overseas conditions. However, Rahane has fallen out of favour when it comes to ODI and T20 cricket. Still, the national selectors might opt for Rahane since ODIs will help him adjust to the English conditions ahead of the Test series. Rahane recently led India to their biggest Test victory against Afghans.
The next big thing: Shubman Gill
A surprise name in this list but the 18-year-old Gill has proved his calibre over the past few months. At the U-19 World Cup, Gill scored 372 runs in 5 innings at an average of 124 and a strike rate of 112.38. He was even more impressive in 2018 IPL after scoring 203 runs at an average of 33.83 and 146.04 for Knight Riders.
