Following England’s commanding 4-0 win, Indian players are now at risk of losing their places in the 2028 T20 World Cup.
India is presently in a transitional phase with new T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, who is still seeking his first series win in this role. Iyer took over after India’s successful campaign in the 2026 T20 World Cup, but his start has been quite unfortunate.
After a dismal 2-0 defeat to Ireland in their first-ever match and series, the Men in Blue suffered another heavy loss against England. The loss in the 5th T20I at Southampton meant India relinquished their top position in the ICC T20I Rankings, as England completed a 4-0 series victory.
With losses in both the Ireland and England T20I series, the Indian team management may be compelled to make significant adjustments ahead of the 2028 T20 World Cup.
As the team strives to create a cohesive squad for the future, a few players from this UK tour may find themselves out of the running.
Here are three players who did not perform well during the IND vs ENG T20I series and could be excluded from India’s T20 World Cup 2028 strategy.
Possible Indian Players Who Could Be Omitted from the 2028 T20 World Cup Team
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi:
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the IPL’s teenage prodigy, had an outstanding season in 2026, clinching the Orange Cap while playing for Rajasthan Royals.
Following the tournament, the 15-year-old received his first call-up to the Indian team for the T20I series in Ireland and England. Although he did not participate in the Ireland matches, he made his international debut in the second T20I against England. Unfortunately, his performance was below expectations, as he scored just 42 runs in his first three innings, averaging 14.
In the fifth T20I, Shreyas Iyer made a significant decision by including Sanju Samson in the playing XI, replacing Sooryavanshi.
Interestingly, during the toss, Iyer’s remarks suggested that while Sooryavanshi is viewed as a valuable long-term asset, he is not currently part of India’s immediate strategy for the 2028 T20 World Cup.
“I believe this is the moment to explore what will benefit us as a team moving forward. Based on that, we made this decision,” Iyer stated.
With fierce competition for opening positions, the young talent may struggle to secure his spot in the squad in the coming years.
Washington Sundar
Another player who may face repercussions from a disappointing tour is Washington Sundar. Although he is one of India’s consistent all-rounders in the T20 format, Sundar has struggled to make a significant impact with both bat and ball.
In the T20I series against Ireland, he scored just 9 runs and went wicketless, giving away 19 runs. His difficulties persisted in England, where he managed only five runs and again failed to take a wicket.
To date, Sundar has played 62 T20Is for India, taking 51 wickets and scoring 279 runs at a strike rate of 126.81. However, his recent performances have sparked concerns regarding his position in the team.
Moreover, as India embarks on a new chapter and aims to assemble a squad for the 2028 T20 World Cup, selectors might be inclined to explore other spin-bowling all-rounders who can provide a more substantial impact.
Suryansh Shedge
Suryansh Shedge received his first call-up to the Indian team after Hardik Pandya and Nitish Kumar Reddy were sidelined due to injuries. The all-rounder from Mumbai was seen as a strong replacement and was given a chance to demonstrate his skills on the international stage.
He made his debut against Ireland, but unfortunately, he did not leave a significant mark. Shedge managed to score only 2 runs off five balls and struggled with his bowling as well, giving away 25 runs in 2 overs without taking a wicket.
Despite this, the team management retained their confidence in him by including him in the playing XI for the fifth T20I against England.
Regrettably, this opportunity did not yield improved results. Shedge allowed 39 runs in three overs without claiming a wicket and scored merely 7 runs from six balls.
As a result, the all-rounder could not take advantage of the opportunities presented to him during the tour. With India likely to keep testing new players during this transitional phase, Shedge may find himself falling down the selection hierarchy.
Unless he consistently performs well in domestic competitions and the IPL, his prospects of being part of India’s squad for the 2028 T20 World Cup seem quite limited at this point.
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