- April 26, 2025
As the 2025 IPL season comes to a close, fans have witnessed some nail-biting match-ups, last-ball finishes, and unforgettable moments, but while it has been amazing to watch several Rising Stars, there have also been a few big names that have laid a huge egg this season. And with the 2026 T20 World Cup coming just a few months after the end of this season, there is no time for mediocrity — especially wearing (or trying to wear) India’s blue.
So, let’s talk about three guys who would be classified as near-certainty in India’s T20 squad — but now? They might be last-minute cuts.
Rinku Singh
Rinku Singh
Do you recall when Rinku Singh was designated as the next finisher in the national team plans for India? After some exciting match-winning performances winning the hearts of KKR fans in previous seasons, it felt as if Rinku was on his way to firmly book a space for himself in India’s T20 plans. Yet in IPL 2025 things have not gone in a favourable direction for Rinku Singh and the plot has shifted pretty quickly.
On paper, his average of 33 and strike rate of 146 seem respectable. But a little deeper analysis shows that Rinku has not been the finisher he was at the outset of the season. Outside of a lone 38 against LSG, in a match they lost, Rinku has not produced a match-winning performance. The most revealing, probably Rinku’s inability to handle Punjab’s spinners, or worse, Yuzvendra Chahal, during a low-scoring chase that should have been straightforward. It’s not that Rinku suddenly became a bad player – not close. But for whatever reason, so far this season, he is missing the consistency and X-factor that is needed at the international level.
Ravi Bishnoi
Ravi Bishnoi
Spin is what India has always been strong at in T20 cricket, so there is strong competition in that strength. Ravi Bishnoi was once a “mystery spinner”, a type of bowler batters couldn’t even decipher. In 2022 and 2023, he had the exciting young talent label, presenting options for India in the middle overs. But, now? It looks like the mystery is gone now.
With Kuldeep Yadav turning in a fantastic season and Varun Chakaravarthy back to being his fearsome self, Bishnoi suddenly finds himself on the outside looking in. His place in the World Cup squad, once taken for granted, now looks to be a long shot. And unless he can reinvent quickly, he could be watching the World Cup from his couch.
Shivam Dube
Shivam Dube
Shivam Dube was one of India’s anonymously successful MVPs in their triumphant 2024 T20 World Cup; a left-handed brute with a penchant for punishing spin who provided invaluable balance for the XI. This season, he is not that hungry. Sure, 34 isn’t bad, but just look at that average; heavily padded by a lot of not-outs. The depressing number is his strike rate – a pedestrian 133.7, which is not good enough for someone in the team to go big or go home. Even worse? He has struck at a miserable 114 against spin, the area where he previously dazzled as India’s head honcho.
Dube’s sluggishness isn’t purely statistical; it impacts the tempo and rhythm of the innings too. In a climate where power-hitting is everything (or particularly in T20s), Dube’s slight drop in aggression could hurt him. If India wants to find some new energy and aggressive hitting at this position, then the selectors might pass Dube over at this time.
So, is this the end for these three, or could they make a late charge and realize their blue jersey dreams? Let us know what you think – are there any other flops that should make this list?
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