Indian Premier League since its inception in 2008 has held a great significance for players as it is not only a platform to earn big bucks but has also served as an opportunity for players to catch the attention of people who are at helm of the selection panel for national team. It’s an ideal platform for them to perform and show their class in the shortest format of the game. And with T20 Cricket World Cup round the corner, every player featuring in IPL-5 made did try their best, as they know that it could bring them under the selection scanner.

India are scheduled to play five T20 international before the World Cup, three against Sri Lanka and two against New Zealand. But how do the players perform in these T20s should hardly matter as the selections would largely depend on a player’s IPL stint. India more or less has a fixed T20 side and in the past the selectors did not experiment with the team much, but going by how some players performed in the tournament it surely would give K. Srikkanth and Co. some sleepless night before they zero in on the players who would make the final cut.

Here are some of the players who had a great IPL stint and surely would be contemplating their chances of making into the Indian squad when the selection committee meets to decide the side.

Ajinkya Rahane and Shikhar Dhawan: Both are openers and both have played some extra-ordinary cricket in this year’s IPL. They have emerged at the top half of the highest run getters list. But then with Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir having played well in the tournament it does make them an automatic choice for the opening. What selectors would have to think about is to who to select as the third opener. It surely would make their job pretty difficult as none of these players can be ignored.

Mandeep Singh: He can be a great option in the middle order. He started off the tournament as a middle order batsmen but his performance prompted his Kings XI captain David Hussey to promote him to opening position. He has been a revelation and also was awarded the rising player of the year for his performance. He scored 432 in 16 matches and his performance can earn him the Indian call up as a specialist middle order batsmen.

Parvinder Awana: He has shown what he is capable with the ball in IPL season V. He has been lethal and has the ability to swing the ball both ways. He has taken 16 wickets in just 12 matches and his performance can earn him a spot in the T20 side.

Munaf Patel: He has been out of the side for some time now but his IPL V stint where he took 15 wickets of just 12 matches has brought him back in serious contention. The senior pro has been in the situation before and selectors might not mind giving him a chance a he has been a proven customer for the team.

Irfan Pathan: He came to the Indian side before the IPL after a long lay-off and he did indeed make a good comeback, not with the ball but as an all-rounder. He also had a decent IPL outing and his all-round utility surely does bring him into contention for a spot in the squad that would be touring Sri Lanka for T20 World Cup.

By Indian Sports News Network