The Indian squad for the white ball series against Sri Lanka has been announced, and a total of 25 players, including the stand-by players and net bowlers, will be on the flight. The squad selected was a pretty new one since the primary side is in England to play the World Test Championship Final and prepare for the five-match test series against England starting in August. India is spoilt for choice across the board, with the team having multiple options to choose from. There were players like Nitish Rana, Devdutt Padikkal, Chetan Sakariya. They were given their maiden call-ups and rewarded for their excellent domestic circuit and the IPL. A surprising name not in the squad was Rahul Tewatia, and his exclusion shocked the pundits and the fans.

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Rahul Tewatia is one of the mainstays of the Rajasthan batting line-up, and with his excellent bowling performances, he was considered a good all-rounder for the Indian team. He was included in the five-match T20I series against England in March, but he failed the fitness test twice, resulting in his exclusion from the team. Since the main squad is in England, he was considered one of the first picks in the team, but the selectors have thought otherwise. The Indian selectors have chosen as many as six spinners in the squad and four fast bowlers for the three ODIs and three T20Is. One of the reasons for his exclusion can be the fitness aspect of it. Over the years, India has seen an upward trend towards being fit over the years under the leadership of Virat Kohli. It has been one of the essential things which have made India a powerhouse in world cricket. A similar scenario was seen with Varun Chakravarthy, who made the squad this time but was also doubtful because of his fitness. This series might indicate a lot about who will be able to make the cut for the T20 World Cup, which will be held in India in October later this year. To get into the Indian side again, Tewatia might have to work hard and match winning performances in the remainder of the IPL and the domestic circuit.

Indeed, if he cannot make the cut this time, it will be a long journey to the top again for Tewatia. He would be eyeing the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia just if he misses out on the squad this time around. There is no doubt at all about Tewatia’s skill and pedigree as a player. He can deliver innings defining knocks as well as give breakthroughs for his team at crucial stages. If he works on himself in this break period, he can become a top-level player who can be a mainstay in the Indian team. 

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