Many senior players have lost their spot in India's T20I setup as the BCCI decided to make big changes following India's exit in T20 World Cup, last year. The Indian team management is giving regular chances to youngsters who have done well in IPL and domestic circuit. Hardik Pandya has been regularly leading India's T20I team since last year's T20 World Cup. Notably, the doors are still not closed for senior players who aren't getting any chances in T20Is right now as in all likelihood, they can surely make a comeback on a full-time basis if they outrank young players in terms of performance.
Let's have a look at five players who haven't played a single T20I match for India, so far, in 2023.
Team India's all-format regular captain Rohit Sharma, who recently expressed his desire to play next year's T20 World Cup 2024, hasn't played any T20 match for India ever since the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final.
Like Rohit, ex-India skipper Virat Kohli too hasn't played a T20I match so far in 2023 and his future in the format depends on how he performs in 2023 ODI World Cup.
Veteran India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who was part of Indian team in past two T20 World Cups, hasn't featured in the format since 2022 T20 World Cup.
Senior fast-bowler Mohammed Shami was a surprise pick in the India squad for T20I World Cup last year. He was brought in as injured Jasprit Bumrah's last-minute replacement. Shami led India's pace attack in the tournament. So far in 2023, the veteran hasn't played any T20I match for the national team.
Team India's first-choice wicketkeeper KL Rahul, currently on the road to recovery at Bengaluru's National Cricket Academy, lost his place in India's T20I squad after last year's T20 World Cup and since then hasn't played a T20I fixture so far in 2023.