Indian Players At Risk Of 2028 T20 WC Spot After England’s 4-0 Hammering

Team India [Source: AFP]

India are currently in a transition phase under the new T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, who is still searching for his first series win as skipper. Iyer, who took charge after India's 2026 T20 World Cup winning campaign, has had a disastorous start.

After a woeful 2-0 loss to Ireland in a first-ever match and series defeat, the Men in Blue endured another heavy loss, this time vs England. When India lost the 5th T20I at Southampton, they lost the ICC T20I Rankings top spot as England finished a 4-0 sweep. 

After losing both Ireland and England T20I series, the Indian team management could be forced to make significant changes ahead of the 2028 T20 WC.

As the team looks to build a settled squad for the future, a few players who featured on this UK tour might find themselves out of contention. 

Here are three players who failed to make an impact during IND vs ENG T20I series and could miss out on India's T20 World Cup 2028 plans.

Indian Players who might be dropped from 2028 T20 WC squad 

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

The IPL's teenage sensation, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, enjoyed a dream campaign in the 2026 season, winning the Orange Cap while representing Rajasthan Royals.

Soon after the tournament, the 15-year-old was rewarded with his maiden India call-up for the T20I tours of Ireland and England. Although he did not feature in the Ireland series, he made his international debut during the 2nd T20I against England. However, things did not go according to plan. Vaibhav managed to score only 42 runs in his first 3 innings at an average of 14.

Furthermore, in the fifth T20I, Shreyas Iyer made a bold selection call by bringing Sanju Samson into the playing XI in place of Sooryavanshi.

Interestingly, Shreyas Iyer's comments during the toss also hinted that while Sooryavanshi remains a promising long-term prospect, he is not currently among India's immediate plans for the 2028 T20 WC.

“I feel this is the time we need to try what's the best going forward for us as a team. So based on that, we decided this,” Iyer said. 

Given the intense competition for opening spots, the youngster could find it difficult to cement his place in the squad over the next few years.

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Washington Sundar

Another player who could face the consequences of an underwhelming tour is Washington Sundar. Despite being one of India's regular all-rounders in the shortest format, Sundar struggled to make an impact with either bat or ball.

During Ireland T20I series, he scored 9 runs and went wicketless while conceding 19 runs. Notably, his struggles continued in England, where he managed five runs and once again failed to pick up a wicket.

Overall, Sundar has represented India in 62 T20Is, claiming 51 wickets and scoring 279 runs at a strike rate of 126.81. However, recent performances have raised concerns about his place in the side.

Additionally, with India entering a new phase and looking to build a 2028 T20 WC squad for the future, the selectors could be tempted to invest in other spin-bowling all rounders who offer greater impact. 

Suryansh Shedge

Suryansh Shedge earned his maiden India call-up after Hardik Pandya and Nitish Kumar Reddy were ruled out due to injuries. The Mumbai all-rounder was viewed as a great replacement and was handed an opportunity to showcase his abilities at the international level.

Notably, he made his debut against Ireland but failed to make a lasting impression. Shedge scored only 2 run from five deliveries and also struggled with the ball, conceding 25 runs in 2 wicketless overs.

Nevertheless, the team management showed faith in him once again by including him in the playing XI for the fifth T20I against England. 

Unfortunately, the opportunity did not produce better results. Shedge conceded 39 runs in three overs without taking a wicket and scored just 7 runs from six balls.

Consequently, the all-rounder was unable to capitalise on the chances he received during the tour. With India likely to continue experimenting with new players during their transition period, Shedge could find himself slipping down the pecking order.

Unless he delivers consistent performances in domestic cricket and IPL, his chances of featuring in India's 2028 T20 WC squad appear slim at this stage.

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