New Delhi: Will Mahendra Singh Dhoni be rested for the Zimbabwe tour? This is the question staring the national selectors as they gather here to decide the Indian team for the short tour, consisting three one-dayers and two T20 internationals. After much dilly-dallying over the broadcast rights issue, the Zimbabwe tour is finally on and it would be interesting to see the selectors’ pick, following India’s 1-2 ODI series loss to Bangladesh this month.
Limited-over skipper Dhoni had hinted of fatigue last week in his unusual burst when he offered to step down as captain, but the buzz is that the 33-year-old might just be named in the squad. There are two things of note here. One, the Board of Control for Cricket in India would be keen to avoid yet another debacle soon after the embarrassing loss to Bangladesh. Two, India are not scheduled to play any limited-overs cricket for four months after the series in Zimbabwe.
Thus, Dhoni and his troops will get proper rest before they begin their build-up for the World T20 Championship, with the home series against South Africa. The selectors though might rest a few players given Team India’s hectic schedule. Regular members Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Rohit Sharma, besides Dhoni, have played non-stop since December 2014 and are keen on a break.
There are talks of Kohli and Ashwin being rested, with either Harbhajan Singh or Pervez Rasool getting a nod in place of the latter. In the case of both Dhoni and Kohli being rested, middle order batsman Rohit Sharma or Suresh Raina could lead the side. Of the two, Raina has been the stop-gap captain in the past in limited over games. Batsman Ajinkya Rahane, however, is a certainty for the series beginning July 10. Robin Uthappa too is likely to make the cut along with Stuart Binny, Ambati Rayudu and Mohit Sharma.
In the pace department, Umesh Yadav may miss out after a gruelling season. The committee will also name the India ‘A’ team in what would be Rahul Dravid’s first assignment as a coach for the tri-series against Australia ‘A’ and South Africa ‘A’.
