Many Indian players have gone on to have successful careers abroad, and the Indian Premier League (IPL) has long served as a stage for them to showcase their skills. Simultaneously, the league has allowed players the opportunity to return and revive ambitions for the national team.
Some players from India will be trying to return to the national squad in the upcoming season. They have been excluded because they have experienced inconsistency despite being regulars in the squad. For them, it’s not just another competition; it’s a crucial chance to reclaim the blue jersey and find their path back.
Here are the five Indian players who could revive their careers if they perform in IPL 2025:
1. Ajinkya Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane will lead the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) this season and has suddenly switched to an attacking game after he was picked for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in 2022. He has also given incredible performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) as well. The KKR fans will be hoping the new skipper will continue his newfound form and help the side defend their title.
There was a time when Ajinkya Rahane was one of the key players in the Indian Test team but the emergence of young players and inconsistent performances in the past were enough to drop him from the side. With his recent performance in domestic cricket another great IPL season could help him get back into the mix once again.
2. Yuzvendra Chahal
Yuzvendra Chahal might not be retained this season and will be playing for the Punjab Kings (PBKS) this season. This will be the fourth franchise in the tournament that he will represent going into the tournament. Chahal is still the highest wicket-taker in the tournament and will be a key player for the Punjab franchise.
Chahal has an incredible record in international cricket where he has taken 217 wickets from 152 games. However, he has not played an international game since 2023 and is still struggling to find a place in the team even after some great performances in domestic cricket. This IPL can be a big opportunity for Chahal to get back into the Indian team and impress the people with his guile and variation.
3. Khaleel Ahmed
Khaleel Ahmed has been giving great performances in domestic cricket this season and was one of the best bowlers for the Delhi Capitals last season where he took 17 wickets from 14 games. Khaleel has a decent record in IPL as well where he has taken 74 wickets in 57 games at an average of 25.41. Though he was released by the Capitals he was acquired by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for 4.8 CR in the auction.
Khaleel might have given some great performances in the domestic circuit and franchise cricket but could not replicate the same form in international cricket. He has played 11 ODIs and 18 T20Is and taken 15 and 16 wickets respectively in both the formats he has played. With the Indian team having a shortage of left-arm pacers Khaleel could have a chance to make a comeback in the side if he performs well this season for the Yellow Brigade.
4. Bhuvneshwar Kumar
The class of Bhuvneshwar Kumar is something that captivated all the fans as soon as he made his debut against Pakistan in 2012. He has also been a successful bowler in the IPL as well where he is the fourth-highest wicket-taker in the tournament and has won the purple cap twice. However, the last season was underwhelming for Bhuvneshwar and he will be hoping to make a great comeback playing for RCB in the upcoming season.
Bhuvneshwar was once one of the leading bowlers for India until 2019 and gained success in all three formats of the game. However due to injuries, his performance started to dwindle as he was dropped from the team after 2022. With the T20 World Cup coming up Bhuvneshwar will hope to be at his best this season and get back the attention of the selectors.
5. Venkatesh Iyer
Venkatesh Iyer has already become one of the biggest superstars for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) who played a huge role for the team in the last two seasons. Iyer has already played an IPL final in 2021 and won a title last season with the team. Iyer is now the most expensive player for KKR in the auction as well where he was bought at 23.75 crore.
Though these are great achievements the star middle-order batter has not found a lot of success in international cricket and has only played nine T20Is and two ODI games for India. Iyer has a lot of expectations from the KKR team and this is his chance to give a performance of a lifetime and look to revive his career. The international game he played for India was in 2022.
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