xtratime Logo

Ashwin & Jadeja likely to be rested, Shahbaz Nadeem may come in

Internet Desk: All eyes will be on Virat Kohli as he will be attending his first selection committee meeting as captain of India ODI team post the resignation of MS Dhoni yesterday. The meeting of the senior selection committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the forthcoming India-England ODI and T20 international series will be held on Friday, January 6, at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai. With Rohit Sharma, Axar Patel recuperating from their injuries the selectors will be looking for replacements.

Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul are going to be natural first choice openers. Dhawan, who broke his finger against New Zealand in the second test has played Ranji Trophy matches for Delhi this season. The left hander had a tough time with the bat before getting injured. But he can still get the nod of the selectors given his record abroad as this is the only ODI series before the Champion's trophy in June.

The new name which is doing the rounds is Gujarat's opener Priyank Panchal who has scored 5 tons this Ranji Trophy season with one triple and one double hundred under his belt. But according to sources, the Gujarat opener is tipped as a better option for the longer format. Also in the reckoning is Gujarat captain Parthiv Patel along with Karnataka batsman Manish Pandey.

The middle order is likely to remain unchanged with Captain Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and MS Dhoni as obvious choices. Hardik Pandya is likely to remain in the team as a bowling all rounder. Kedar Yadav is also likely to retain his place in the ODI squad. With Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja likely to be rested for the ODI series, Jharkhand’s Shahbaz Nadeem may get a nod in.

The left arm spinner has taken 56 wickets in 10 Ranji trophy games this season. Another left arm spinner Axar Patel is also doubtful as he is also carrying an injury. The selectors are likely to stick with leg-spinner Amit Mishra.

Keeping in mind the Champions trophy in England the selectors would like test the Indian pacers at a glance. Mohammed Shami who was rested for the final two tests against injury England is likely to be the first choice pacer (if declared fit) along with Bhubaneshwar Kumar for his impeccable swing bowling. Umesh Yadav, who was there in the ODI series against New Zealand, is likely to keep his place in the side. Ishant Sharma’s name will also be discussed. It will be a toss-up between Ishant and Shami. Earlier, there was some confusion whether all the five selectors can be present for the selection meeting or not since Gagan Khoda and Jatin Paranjpe do not meet the criteria suggested by the Lodha committee.  According to the Lodha panel recommendations, the members of the selection committee should be former Test players, but both Khoda and Paranjape have only played limited overs cricket for India. Other selectors MSK Prasad, Devang Gandhi and Sarandeep Singh have played Test cricket for India.

Indian ODI Team (Likely) Virat Kohli(C), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Priyank Panchal/Manish Pandey/Parthiv Patel, Ajinkya Rahane, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Amit Mishra, Umesh Yadav, Md Shami/Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shahbaz Nadeem