Dhoni back in T20 squad for NZ, Pant dropped from ODIs
Team Udayavani, Dec 24, 2018, 6:53 PM IST
New Delhi: Mahendra Singh Dhoni was Monday brought back to India’s T20 squad to ensure he gets “enough game-time” before the ODI World Cup but the young Rishabh Pant was axed from the 50-over side for the upcoming series against Australia and New Zealand.
While Dhoni’s inclusion in the shortest format came as a surprise after he was dropped for the Australia leg just last month, Pant’s omission is an indication that he is currently not in the team management’s 2019 World Cup radar as a first XI player.
The convenor of selection committee, Amitabh Chaudhary, refused to comment on the matter but a source privy to the development justified the 37-year-old Dhoni’s selection.
“Since there are only eight ODIs (three against Australia and five against New Zealand), selectors want to give MS as much game time as possible (before the World Cup). Three T20Is means 11 international matches through the next one month,” a BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
Pant, on the other hand, will come back to play five ODIs against England Lions in India from January 23.
The 15-member squad for the twin ODI series against Australia (starting January 12) and New Zealand (starting January 23) is pretty much the core team for the World Cup in England that starts May 30. The three T20 Internationals against the Kiwis are lined up from February 6.
The selection committee’s decision to bring back Dhoni is set to raise a few eyebrows as the logic given before the Australia T20s was that he was not going to be in the scheme of things for the T20 World Cup in Australia in 2020. The former captain is already retired from the Test format.
“That’s the reason Rishabh is a part of T20 squad. Also now with Kedar (Jadhav) and Hardik (Pandya) are fit and Kedar being an off-break bowler, it will be difficult for the team management to fit in Rishabh in playing XI in the World Cup unless someone gets injured. Already Dinesh Karthik and KL Rahul are there in case MS gets injured,” he added.
Interestingly, skipper Virat Kohli, when asked about Dhoni’s T20 omission in November, had stated that the veteran had offered to give up the format so that Pant could be groomed for the job.
“…he (Dhoni) just feels that in the T20 format, someone like Rishabh can get more chances,” Kohli had said last month.
From the last T20 squad, Shreyas Iyer and Manish Pandey have been dropped as Hardik expectedly made a comeback and Kedar was also included to give him more game time.
The squad is also an indicator that till the World Cup, all doors are closed for Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane and premier spinner R Ashwin.
The other senior bowler Ravindra Jadeja, however after a good show in the Asia Cup, is in the mix with first choice wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal.
Left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed has impressed the team management enough and if all goes well, will surely board the UK-bound flight.
India are currently engaged in a Test series against Australia and will play three ODIs against them starting in Sydney.
This will be followed by a limited-overs engagement with New Zealand, beginning with five ODIs from January 23.
The squads:
India’s squad for ODI series against Australia and New Zealand: Virat Kohli (Capt), Rohit Sharma (VC), KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, Dinesh Karthik, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (WK), Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohammed Shami.
India’s squad for T20I series against New Zealand: Virat Kohli(Capt), Rohit Sharma (vc), KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (WK), Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Khaleel Ahmed.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
India crawl to 51 for 4 after losing top-order
Mohammed Shami ridicules Sanjay Manjrekar over comments on reduced IPL value
There’s potential for disruption in India camp with Rohit coming back in Adelaide: Ponting
We are not carrying baggage from New Zealand series: Bumrah
Argentina football team, featuring Lionel Messi, to play in Kerala next year
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
BJP stages protest against Karnataka govt over Waqf properties row
US charges against Adani, 7 others could lead to arrest warrants, extradition bid: attorney
Youth attempts suicide after being humiliated in public for wearing ripped jeans in Belthangady
Baku climate talks: The ‘X’ factor that could determine future of Global South
Kerala HC denies bail to police officer accused of ‘raping’ minor Dalit girl
Thanks for visiting Udayavani
You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.