India Players Whom BCCI Could Sideline From ODIs After Sri Lanka Tri-Nation A Series

Tilak Varma and India-A (Source: AFP)India-A ended the Tri-Nation A Series 2026 on a high note by defeating Sri Lanka-A by 66 runs in the final at Dambulla on June 21. The tournament will be remembered for 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's stunning performance in the final, an explosive 29-ball 94 at a strike-rate of 324.14. India A posted a massive 377/9 and then bowled out Sri Lanka A for 311 to lift the trophy.While the series produced several positives for Indian cricket, it also highlighted some concerns. A few players who were expected to strengthen their case for a place in India’s ODI squad failed to make a strong impact.In this article, let’s take a look at three players who may have fallen behind in the race for future ODI selection after the Sri Lanka A Tri-Series.3 Players Who Missed A Big Chance To Impress BCCI Selectors1. Tilak VarmaIndia A captain Tilak Varma led his side decently in the tournament and finished as the second-highest run-scorer. He scored 275 runs in five innings at an impressive average of 55.00.On paper, those numbers look excellent, however, the biggest concern was his strike rate of 74.93. In modern ODI cricket, teams expect middle-order batters to score quickly and maintain momentum through the middle overs.While Tilak consistently contributed runs, he often scored at a pace that may not meet the requirements of the current Indian ODI setup.Also Read: Why Ishan Kishan Can Be Gambhir's Favourite For 2027 World Cup Ahead of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak VarmaThe star player last played an ODI match for India against South Africa in 2023-24. In that series, he scored 63 runs in three innings at an average of 31.50 and a strike rate of just 57.27.To secure a permanent place in the ODI set-up for the future and impress the BCCI selectors, Tilak may need to improve his scoring rate significantly.Ayush BadoniAyush Badoni entered the tournament with an excellent chance to strengthen his case as a batting all-rounder in the India's ODI selection. However, he was unable to make a significant impact. The right-hander scored only 39 runs in three innings at an average of 13.00 and a strike rate of 72.22. With the ball, he took four wickets at an economy rate of 5.04; however, his overall performance was not convincing enough to stand out.Badoni had received his maiden call-up to India's ODI squad earlier this year during the home series against New Zealand. He was brought in as a replacement for the injured Washington Sundar but did not get a chance to make his debut.This tournament was an opportunity to remind selectors of his potential and push his case for future selection in the ODI setup. As a player capable of contributing with both bat and ball, he could have emerged as an option in the all-rounder category in place of Sundar.Anshul KambojFast bowler Anshul Kamboj also had a disappointing campaign in the recently concluded Sri Lanka Tri-Nation A Series. The pacer managed only two wickets in three innings while conceding runs at an economy rate of 7.07.For a bowler hoping to break into India’s ODI plans, those numbers are unlikely to create a definite chance.India's current ODI strategy also makes Kamboj's challenge tougher. The team management has increasingly preferred bowlers with genuine pace or proven success across formats, so Anshul Kamboj has likely missed a good chance for India’s ODI plans.Also Read: England Ditch Pakistan; Pick New Opponent For Historic Match