{"id":264255,"date":"2025-03-22T05:56:10","date_gmt":"2025-03-22T05:56:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/22\/ipl-is-last-mega-audition-before-t20-world-cup-in-2026-cricket-news-the-times-of-india\/"},"modified":"2025-03-22T05:56:10","modified_gmt":"2025-03-22T05:56:10","slug":"ipl-is-last-mega-audition-before-t20-world-cup-in-2026-cricket-news-the-times-of-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/22\/ipl-is-last-mega-audition-before-t20-world-cup-in-2026-cricket-news-the-times-of-india\/","title":{"rendered":"IPL is last mega audition before T20 World Cup in 2026 | Cricket News – The Times of India"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Captains of 10 IPL teams (Photo Credit: IPL)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

NEW DELHI: This Indian Premier League<\/a> (IPL<\/a>) will be the final mega audition of players for next year\u2019s T20 World Cup to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
India\u2019s T20 team has sustained its dominance since the T20 World Cup triumph in June last year, but it hasn\u2019t been India\u2019s first-choice squad, with formats overlapping and selectors preserving senior players for Test matches.
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It has created an awkward situation for the selectors. For instance, Rishabh Pant will have to fight for his wicketkeeping spot with Sanju Samson coming good in two out of four T20I series after the T20 World Cup. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, who were long considered as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli\u2019s successors at the top of the order, will have to do a lot more to displace Abhishek Sharma and Samson. KL Rahul, after being dropped for the last T20 World Cup, too will look to re-establish himself. <\/p>\n

TOI understands that head coach Gautam Gambhir is a strong advocate for having a niche T20 team. Even as the Test team suffered debacles during his tenure, he proudly wears the young T20 team\u2019s success as a badge.
Sources close to the selectors and the team management say things are very fluid. Some experts feel that these T20I series were more like India \u2018A\u2019 games except the last one at home against England. Going by the nature of the format, selectors are likely to create a core team based on recent form rather than past records. <\/p>\n

Backup wicketkeepers as finishers?<\/span>
While Samson has an established reputation as an opener, his wicketkeeping competitors Pant and Rahul may look to find a place in the middle order. Despite Abhishek, Samson and Tilak Varma\u2019s dynamic performances, India have struggled to consistently finish with a flourish.
Gill and Jaiswal are already pushing for the opening slot. This may prompt Pant and Rahul to show their mettle down the order in IPL.
Backup for Bumrah, Arshdeep<\/span>
Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah will always be the first-choice pacers. But the selectors are wary of Bumrah\u2019s fitness issues and need to create a definite backup. Mayank Yadav was fast-tracked in the T20I series against Bangladesh in October. If he regains fitness and has a good IPL, he could push Harshit Rana for a spot.<\/p>\n

Spinners for Indian conditions<\/span>
Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel fit right in, so this IPL will be crucial for Kuldeep Yadav if he wants to stay ahead of Ravi Bishnoi. Bishnoi has shown great temperament in bowling the tough overs.<\/p>\n


Get the latest IPL 2025<\/a> updates on Times of India<\/a>, including match schedules<\/a>, team squads<\/a>, and live scores for CSK<\/a>, MI<\/a>, RCB<\/a>, KKR<\/a>, SRH<\/a>, LSG<\/a>, DC<\/a>, GT<\/a>, PBKS<\/a>, and RR<\/a>. Find out how to watch IPL 2025<\/a> in Canada<\/a> and the USA<\/a>.<\/i><\/div>\n<\/div>\n