Competition for a place in India national cricket team has become extremely intense across all formats, and as a result, several talented players have been left out despite having proven their abilities. Interestingly, IPL 2026 features a number of such cricketers who have represented India in the past but have been out of the national setup for quite some time. If combined, these players have enough firepower to create a formidable T20 playing XI.
At the top, players like Devdutt Padikkal and Prithvi Shaw bring explosive batting potential. Padikkal, who debuted internationally in 2021 and last appeared in Tests in late 2024, has been in excellent form in IPL 2026. Shaw, once regarded as one of India’s brightest young talents, has been out of the national team for nearly five years and is still waiting for opportunities to prove himself again.
The middle order looks equally strong with players like Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Krunal Pandya, and Venkatesh Iyer. Patidar, currently leading from the front in IPL 2026, has been consistently scoring runs and pushing for a comeback. Sarfaraz Khan, known for his strong domestic performances, hasn’t featured for India since late 2024. Krunal Pandya and Venkatesh Iyer, both capable all-rounders, have been out of the national setup for a few years but continue to perform in franchise cricket.
In the spin department, Yuzvendra Chahal remains a standout name. Despite being one of India’s most successful white-ball spinners, he hasn’t played for the national side since 2023, yet continues to deliver in the IPL.
The pace attack of this hypothetical XI looks experienced and dangerous, featuring Bhuvneshwar Kumar, T. Natarajan, and Sandeep Sharma. Bhuvneshwar has been out of Team India for around four years, Natarajan for about five, and Sandeep Sharma hasn’t been in the national setup for nearly a decade. Despite this, all three continue to showcase their skills in the IPL with consistent performances.
Overall, this group of players highlights the depth of Indian cricket talent. Even those outside the national team can combine to form a competitive and well-balanced T20 XI, proving that the bench strength in Indian cricket remains incredibly strong.
