The many heroes of IPL 2025 have led to a problem of plenty for the Indian T20I unit.
First things first: the current Indian men’s T20I side is not merely an exceptional unit but arguably the greatest side in the history of the format.
The claim is not superficial. Of their last 11 competitions (10 bilaterals and the 2024 T20 World Cup, where India became the first team to win the tournament unbeaten) they have won 10 and drawn one. This includes 37 T20I wins (35 outright, two in Super Over) and just five defeats.
The introduction is key to this discussion, for it is important to understand that it is an incredibly uphill task to break into this side. The IPL puts the deepest talent pool in the world through stern tests, but being merely good in one season is unlikely to be enough. One has to perform consistently or come up with something truly exceptional.
But that is only the first step. Simply being exceptional at what they do might not be enough: they need to fit into the T20 philosophy of the current Indian team management.
The current Indian T20 mantra
During his stints with the Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders as mentor, Gautam Gambhir made it evident that he wanted cricketers with multiple skillsets. Thus, both sides had several batters who bowled and bowlers who batted irrespective of whether their skills were needed.
At the KKR, he also demonstrated his preference towards an ultra-aggressive batting unit. In a way, it was a product of his first preference, for a string of all-rounders can enable the batters to come out all guns blazing from ball one.
Gambhir has backed his preferences in his stint as the Indian head coach with considerable success until now. While discussing the XI, thus, it is important to assume that the mantra is unlikely to change.
Who are the guaranteed picks?
Jasprit Bumrah, the best T20I fast bowler in the world. Suryakumar Yadav, captain and the best T20I batter in the world. Axar Patel, vice-captain, exceptional hitter of spin who can bat anywhere in the order, and excellent defensive spinner. And Hardik Pandya, who can bat in the top six and bowl four overs of pace.
The top four: Who joins ‘SKY’?
Let us consider the incumbents – Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, and Surya.
Catering to the Gambhir school of hitting from the onset, Samson hit three hundred in five innings, all at strike rates of over 190 last year. The low scores in the England series was largely a product of his willingness to continue with the approach. The incumbent keeper of the Indan XI, he struck at 140 in the IPL 2025.
Abhishek is probably even more dangerous at the top, can bowl his full quota, and had a strike rate of 193 in the IPL. Tilak Varma struck at 138, but he has hit two hundreds in South Africa last year, and does bowl as well. If that seems a weaker package compared to the other two, Yashasvi Jaiswal (strike rate of 164 in T20Is, 160 in IPL 2025) will fit into the top three.
One must remember that the No.3 spot became vacant only after Surya relinquished it for Tilak. All three of Samson, Abhishek, and Jaiswal can play (the order is not clear) can fit in if and only if Surya does not want to reclaim it. Anything below two-drop will be too low for a batter of his calibre. If Tilak plays, thus, he will have to bat at five.
Where does that leave Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill, both of whom scored mountains of runs in IPL 2025 while striking at 156? While they were incredible, it was an unusually quick season for two batters, both of whom had struck at under 140 throughout their careers. It will perhaps take them another IPL season for them to break through. It is important to remember that 2025 (9.62) was the quickest-scoring season in IPL history (yes, quicker than the 9.56 of 2024).
Of the two, Gill is the likelier to make it – not because he is the better option but because the BCCI prefers the same person to lead in all three formats. The new Test captain will almost certainly succeed Rohit Sharma in ODIs, so why not in T20Is as well? Of course, that decision can wait for some time.
Unfortunately, there is no room for Prabhsimran Singh... yet.
The next three: Who is the death-over hitter?
Hardik and Axar’s selection leaves a maximum of one spot for a specialist death-over hitter. India have trusted Rinku Singh with that role in the past.
One statistic is worth a mention here. Of all Indians to have faced 20 balls in the death overs in IPL 2025, only Shreyas Iyer (238) has struck at a rate quicker than Rinku (236). No, he has not been as ordinary as perceived.
What about Iyer? Strike rates of 147 in IPL 2024 and 175 in IPL 2025 sound more than impressive – but as mentioned above, these were the two fastest-scoring seasons. International cricket does not come with the cushion of the Impact Player. Rinku, the incumbent, has stronger credentials, even at international level. Like Gill and Sai Sudharsan, thus, Iyer is likely to have to wait for some time.
Is there a role for Jitesh Sharma, who was magnificent for RCB (strike rate 176) in IPL 2025 and has kept wicket for India in the format? Perhaps. Perhaps not. If India do recall Jitesh, they may try to get Gill or Tilak for Samson. It is unlikely, but not impossible.
Oh, and Shashank Singh may want to have a word...
The specialist bowlers: A problem of plenty
Let us cast our mind to the England series, where India went in with one fast bowler. The next T20 World Cup will be played in India and Sri Lanka, and it is likely that India will do the same.
If they indeed do that, Bumrah will be joined by Varun Chakravarthy, who has done enough to emerge as the lead spinner, and Kuldeep Yadav. If they do need another fast bowler, Arshdeep Singh is miles ahead of any other competition.
The “insurance” at No.8
From eight games at the 2024 T20 World Cup, Ravindra Jadeja (now retired) bowled only 14 overs and faced only 22 balls, but India retained him despite having both Hardik and Axar in the XI. They wanted someone who could become both the eighth batter and the sixth bowler. He might not be needed in one or even both departments, but India wanted that “insurance”. That was under Rahul Dravid, but as mentioned above, Gambhir believes in the same mantra.
Nitish Kumar Reddy is a rarity, for he can bat up the order and bowl seam, but he hardly bowled in IPL 2025. Washington Sundar struck at 166 this season but bowled only 10.5 overs in six games. However, given the requirement of the role, India may take that.
What about Krunal Pandya? Having last played for India in 2021, the elder Pandya brother took 17 wickets in IPL 2025 while going at 8.23 an over, and is more than competent at No.8. Washington is likely to pip him, but Krunal may not be an ordinary option.
Of course, India may fit in another batter (Tilak, perhaps, or Riyan Parag – just for the bowling options) and go with three out-and-out bowlers, backed by Hardik, Axar, and Abhishek. The attack still seems reasonably good.
India’s best-choice T20I XI if everyone is available:
The likeliest option: Samson (wk), Abhishek, Jaiswal, Suryakumar (c), Hardik, Axar, Rinku, Washington, Bumrah, Arshdeep/Kuldeep, Varun.
The top three can bat in any order. Rinku and Axar will be used as floaters. Arshdeep will play ahead of Kuldeep unless India go in with only Bumrah and Pandya.
The extra-batter option: Samson (wk), Abhishek, Jaiswal, Suryakumar (c), Tilak, Hardik, Rinku, Axar, Bumrah, Arshdeep/Kuldeep, Varun.
The same as above, with Washington replaced by Tilak to boost the batting. Arshdeep will play ahead of Kuldeep unless India go in with only Bumrah and Pandya.
The flat-surface option: Samson (wk), Abhishek, Jaiswal, Suryakumar (c), Hardik, Axar, Rinku, Bumrah, Arshdeep, Kuldeep, Varun.
On a flat surface, India may opt to sacrifice the No.8 for the extra bowler. Arshdeep and Kuldeep will both play.
The Gill-will-succeed-Surya-so-he-must-play option: Abhishek, Jaiswal, Gill, Suryakumar (c), Hardik, Axar, Jitesh (wk), Washington, Bumrah, Arshdeep/Kuldeep, Varun.
If India are indeed keen on one captain for three formats...
