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Ravindra Jadeja called time on his T20I career after helping India win the 2024 T20 World Cup on June 29 in Barbados. The Men in Blue prevailed by seven runs over South Africa in the final to win their second ICC T20 event.
Although Jadeja's retirement was unexpected, his form was a worrying sign for the Indian team throughout the tournament. He managed to contribute only 35 runs in five innings and took only one wicket.
However, since making his T20I debut in 2009, the 35-year-old stood out on many occasions to help India win crunch games. In 74 T20Is, he garnered 515 runs and scalped 54 wickets. Apart from this, his fielding skills were top-notch and it will be difficult for any player to replace him in the XI.
However, there are few of the players who qualify as spin-bowling all-rounder, who can stake a claim to fill the vacant spot left by Ravindra Jadeja.
#1 Harpreet Brar
Over the last few IPL seasons, Harpreet Brar has been a crucial partnership-breaker for the Punjab Kings. He shot to fame by taking the wickets of Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, and AB de Villiers in IPL 2021.
In total, Brar has scalped 25 wickets at an economy of 7.91 in the league. The 28-year-old produced his best-ever season with the bat in 2024, scoring 75 runs at an average of 37.50 and a strike rate of 138.89. His best knock of 29 off 12 came against the Gujarat Titans.
With 72 wickets in 82 T20s, Brar has shown the ability to pick consistent wickets for the side. Moreover, with improved batting performances, he can be one of the replacements for Jadeja in the T20I side.
#2 Rahul Tewatia
Although Rahul Tewatia has been off the radar for some time, he can be termed another great prospect for the national team. In 147 T20s, Tewatia has scored 1,914 runs and scalped 69 wickets.
He was in the reckoning for the spot in the Indian team after slamming five sixes in an over against Sheldon Cottrell in IPL 2020. However, he hasn't yet made his international debut.
He bowled regularly in IPL until 2021, taking 32 wickets at an economy of 7.91. The 2024 season saw him score 188 runs at a strike rate of 145.74.
Tewatia was terrific in helping Haryana secure a title victory in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2023/24 by contributing over 300 runs and picking up 15 wickets. With experience and all-round form on his side, Tewatia can be a perfect replacement for Jadeja.
#3 Sai Kishore
One of the most consistent wicket-takers in the 2023/24 domestic season, Sai Kishore is another probable contender for the all-rounder slot in the Indian T20I team. Kishore emerged as the highest wicket-taker at the Vijay Hazare Trophy with 19 wickets and the Ranji trophy with 53 scalps.
Kishore gave an account of his batting talent in the Ranji Trophy, scoring 221 runs at an average of 24.55, with two fifties. Although the left-arm spinner picked up only two wickets in five games in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy, he had a terrific economy of 5.89.
In IPL 2024, Kishore scalped nine wickets in seven appearances at an economy of 9.13. He finished with figures of 4/33 to help the Gujarat Titans secure a victory over the Punjab Kings.
If the Indian team decides to play with two left-arm spinners, with Axar Patel taking one spot, Kishore can be the other spinner in the XI.
#4 Washington Sundar
Once preferred as one of the core spin-bowling all-rounders for the Indian team, Washington Sundar lost his place due to injury concerns and a lack of wicket-taking abilities. Although Sundar has been proficient in keeping it tight with the new ball, he hasn't consistently picked up wickets.
Since making his T20I debut in 2017, the 24-year-old has 34 wickets and 107 runs in 43 matches. Interestingly, his last T20I earlier this year against Afghanistan saw him finish with his best-ever figures of 3/18. The Chennai-born all-rounder will certainly look to contribute more with the bat, when given a chance, and cement his place in the national team.
#5 Shahbaz Ahmed
The talented all-rounder did well in IPL 2024 for Sunrisers Hyderabad. He scored 215 runs and picked up seven wickets in 16 appearances. On most occasions, he was used as a floater with the bat and an attacking option with the ball.
The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2023/24 saw him score 73 runs at a strike rate of 162.22 and pick up five wickets in seven appearances. He scored 187 runs and took 12 wickets in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2023/24.
Meanwhile, Ahmed returned with figures of 1/13 and 1/28 against Bangladesh and Afghanistan, respectively in India's Asian Games 2023 campaign. All in all, if given a longer rope in the Indian team, the southpaw can prove to be a utility option in all departments.
