Although the 16th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is still in its early stages, we have already seen some outstanding performances by batsmen and bowlers. Since its inception in 2008, the IPL has served as a platform for emerging cricketers to showcase their talent and rub shoulders with the game’s greats. This has led to numerous opportunities for young players to represent their national team at the highest level.
The IPL has also provided a second chance for veteran cricketers to revive their international careers, as we have witnessed in the past. Despite the challenges of breaking into the national team after the age of 30, the IPL has enabled senior players to maintain hope of making an international comeback.
Therefore, in this article, we will explore three Indian cricketers over the age of 30 who could resurrect their international careers with a good performance in IPL 2023.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
The first player on our list is Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who recently led Sunrisers Hyderabad in their opening match against the Rajasthan Royals as a replacement for regular skipper Aiden Markram, who was unavailable due to national team duty. While Bhuvneshwar is known for his skill, his recent form is a concern, as he struggled during the 2022 T20 World Cup, conceding crucial runs during important moments. Although he was included in the Indian squad for a white-ball series against New Zealand in 2022, he has not been in favor since then. A strong showing in IPL 2023 could bring him back into contention for national team selection, especially with a home World Cup later in the year.
Ishant Sharma
Ishant Sharma, the tall fast bowler, has been absent from the national team for some time now. However, the Indian pace attack has been struggling in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence, which might prompt the selectors to consider Ishant’s return. Ishant is part of the Delhi Capitals squad but did not feature in the starting lineup for the first two matches. If he gets a chance to play, he must perform well and push for a comeback to the Indian team. Since he has not been a part of the white-ball set-up since 2016, it may be difficult for the 34-year-old to return. Nevertheless, an impressive IPL showing could change the selectors’ minds.
Ajinkya Rahane
In the recent past, Ajinkya Rahane was considered on par with Virat Kohli in the Test format. Experts had predicted that the trio of Pujara, Kohli, and Rahane would achieve great heights. However, while Kohli continued his dominance, both Rahane and Pujara’s performances in the last two to three years have been lackluster. After the tour of South Africa in early 2022, Rahane, who was India’s vice-captain in Tests, lost his spot. Rahane, a stylish batsman when in form, has the opportunity to revive his international career with a strong IPL season in 2023. He is a member of the Chennai Super Kings team, but with CSK already having a set opening pair in Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway, captain MS Dhoni is unlikely to change the lineup. Regardless of where Rahane is placed in the playing XI, he must demonstrate that he still possesses the skills that made him an important player for India.
