While only a few make the cut for their national team, several senior pros use the Indian Premier League as a platform to get back into form and grab the attention of national selectors. Some of India’s seniors have been sidelined for a long time now and are itching to get back into the national fold.
– IPL 2015: Top five run scorers
Selectors tend to choose India's raw and natural talent coming through the ranks but good performances coupled with consistency remains the utmost priority and there are several veterans making their voices heard loud and clear.
Here, Sport360 analyses the hopes of four of India's 2011 World Cup-winning squad of earning an international recall based on their IPL form.
VIRENDER SEHWAG
At 36, most players opt for retirement but Sehwag has shown glimpses of his past, tormenting bowlers with his slashing cuts to point and overhead shots towards long-on. Though he was dismissed first ball against Rajasthan Royals, he continues to inflict fear in the opposition and entertain fans like no other batsman. Sehwag's quick-fire 39 helped Punjab score a commanding 177 against Mumbai as they managed to win by 18 runs and while facing his former side Delhi, Sehwag played the anchor role – scoring a patient 47. Sehwag's fearless approach makes him one of a kind but it can affect his performances as he tends to suffer from inconsistency. The opener has been dismissed 23 times within the first 2 overs of an IPL innings, more than any other batsman.
GAUTAM GAMBHIR
Leading by example, KKR captain Gambhir has three fifties in four games so far this season. Gambhir is in fact the third highest run-getter in IPL history and overtook Suresh Raina's record of highest number of half-centuries with his 26th in 108 innings. The left-hander is known for his firm, steady and technical ability – unlike modern batsmen who tend to be on the aggressive side. This method allows Kolkata's batting order to score freely while Gambhir plays the supporting role at the other end. Despite his match-winning knocks in the 2007 World T20 finals and 2011 World Cup finals, a place in the national team looks bleak following the rise of Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane.
YUVRAJ SINGH
Player of the tournament in World Cup 2011, Yuvraj Singh made it very clear he wants to regain his spot in the national side after being ignored for the recent showpiece Down Under. IPL 8 winners get a staggering Rs. 14 crore but Yuvraj takes home a whopping Rs 16 crore – which not only highlights his all-rounder abilities in T20 cricket but also shows he is still in demand. Coming in at No. 6 chasing 150 against CSK, Yuvraj fell for just nine as his Delhi Daredevils lost by a single run. Against Rajasthan, he scored a promising 27, but Daredevils lost the game in the final delivery, stretching their winless run to 11 games in IPL.
No team had lost 12 in a row in IPL history but Yuvraj delivered when they needed him the most as he scored a match-winning fifty against Punjab. He failed to impress against the Sunrisers but Delhi managed two wins in a row thanks to their captain JP Duminy's all-round performance. Against KKR, Delhi suffered their ninth straight defeat at the Feroz Shah Kotla, with Yuvraj getting himself out for 21 as Delhi failed to defend a modest target of 146.
HARBHAJAN SINGH
Spinners play a vital role in all formats but are not known to deliver in the shortest format which is dominated by batsmen. However, the top 3 wicket-takers in IPL 2015 are spinners and Harbhajan Singh comes in at second place after Imran Tahir with eight wickets at an average of 16.12 and economy rate of 8.06. He was named man-of-the-match for his 3/27 against RCB which ended Mumbai's dreadful four-match losing streak and his list of wickets include popular names like Chris Gayle, Brendon McCullum and Virender Sehwag. Harbhajan can be equally dangerous with the bat after smashing 64 off 24 balls against KXIP. Eleven of those went for six or four and despite adding a record 100-run stand in 37 balls with Jagadeesha Suchith, Mumbai fell short of 18 runs.
