Finally, the long wait is over. After months of speculation, anticipation, endless debates, and discussions about who should be picked, who should be left out, and who should be given another chance to prove themselves, the Indian selection committee has announced the squads for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa and test against England. The South Africa series team has several fresh names as well as a few significant absences. 

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While Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik, and Dinesh Karthik have been rewarded with call-ups following their excellent performances in IPL2022, players like Rahul Tripathi and Sanju Samson have missed out on the list, despite consistent efforts with the bat and as captain of their team.

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Here are three key players who could not make it into the Indian T20 squad after their IPL 2022 performance:

Rahul Tripathi 

Rahul Tripathi’s omission comes as a huge surprise. A great majority of supporters are claiming that he deserved a place in the squad following a stellar season that has cemented his place as one of the top uncapped batsmen in the country. 

He remained steady throughout the tournament and the domestic circuit, scoring close to 400 runs for the Sunrisers Hyderabad team, which speaks much about his class and apparent potential. Many fans and analysts were taken aback by this move, but many believe a call-up is not long away.

Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson is another name that stands out due to his absence from the squad. What’s more puzzling is that the squad has room for two wicket keepers but not a third? 

Samson has been one of the key batters for the Rajasthan Royals this season, and he has consistently produced for his team when it mattered. He has also grown as a captain since last year when he led his team to the playoffs in only his second year as captain. This snub makes you wonder if he will have any further opportunities.

Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan is another name that has been left out entirely. He was the skipper the last time India elected to field different squads for various series, and he is one of the country’s most senior players. He wasn’t even considered this time, despite being a very consistent performer for both club and country when called upon. You have to believe that this snub is the final straw for him in terms of his India career.

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While the squad is well-balanced, you can’t help but wonder what could have happened if the above-mentioned three players had been included. They can only pick themselves up from this setback and keep putting in the work, knowing that a call-up is right around the corner.