The selectors were at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) where the newly appointed full-time white ball captain Rohit Sharma Had to give fitness test. After passing the Test, Rohit went to the meeting to pick the squad for the T20I and ODI series.
Rohit Sharma also made a comeback after being ruled out of the Test and ODI series against South Africa due to a hamstring injury.
“Pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami have been rested from the series, while KL Rahul will be available from the second ODI. Ravindra Jadeja is going through his final phase of recovery after a knee injury and is unavailable for ODIs and T20Is. Axar Patel will be available for T20 Internationals.” BCCI release.
Kuldeep’s return to left-arm wrist spin is a sign that the selectors are eager to return to the dominant attack of wrist-spin. Kuldeep was falling out of favor before suffering a serious knee injury just ahead of the second leg of the IPL in the United Arab Emirates last September. Kuldeep has not played a single competitive match since his recovery. However, he was made the captain of the Ranji Trophy team of Uttar Pradesh.
As far as Bishnoi, who mainly bowls googly, is concerned, the selectors and the team management are quite enthusiastic about his nature and his aggressive approach towards bowling.
India head coach Rahul Dravid recently lamented the inability of his bowlers to pick up wickets in the middle overs during their 3-0 ODI series loss in South Africa. former ODI captain Virat Kohli Kuldeep and leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal were backed to take extra wickets in the middle. Kuldeep’s experience won the trust of the selectors. Off-spinner Washington Sundar will complete the spin attack.
The six-match series against West Indies will consist of three ODIs starting on February 6 in Ahmedabad and will be followed by a series of T20Is in Kolkata.
Due to the COVID-19 protocol, the BCCI has reduced the number of venues from six cities to two.
Bhuvi out of ODIs, got T20 lifeline
senior medium pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar He has been dropped from the ODI team. He has been retained for T20Is. Bhuvneshwar is far from his best since returning from injury last year. He was particularly nostalgic in South Africa. The selectors and the team management felt that such a senior player should get some more chances to prove his mettle. However, it is clear that he is running against time.
ODI Team: Rohit Sharma (capt), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Surya Kumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wk), Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohd. Siraj, Famous Krishna, Avesh Khan
T20 Team: Rohit Sharma (capt), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Surya Kumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar, Mr. Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel.
Ashwin in danger of missing home season
Ashwin, who was included back in the ODI and T20 International teams, has sustained serious injuries to his wrist and ankle. TOI has learned that he sustained injuries while fielding in the ODI series in South Africa. Ashwin twisted his ankle and fell on the wrist. He is being monitored. The severity of the injury is yet to be ascertained but it is learned that taking him back may aggravate his injury.
Still not convinced with Hardik
TOI has learned that the selectors are not yet convinced of Hardik Pandya’s ability to bowl at full tilt. The all-rounder was dropped after the T20 World Cup where he was unprepared to bowl. Hardik has been working hard to regain his bowling fitness. The selectors spoke to Hardik on Wednesday and it was decided that he would have to prove his fitness by bowling in competitive matches before being considered for selection. Now there is a possibility that Hardik will bowl only during the IPL. Till then the team management will keep grooming Venkatesh Iyer.
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