Rahul’s wicketkeeping fitness in question with Pant and Samson in fray; eyes also on spin attack, fitness of Bumrah and Shami
NEW DELHI: When the national selectors and the Indian team management get together during the weekend to discuss the squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy next month, one can expect tough debates over balancing the spin attack, finding the two wicketkeepers and keeping a close eye on the fitness of Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah.
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TOI understands that the selectors will pick a team for the T20I home series against England separately before finalising the potential team for the subsequent ODI series against England and the Champions Trophy.
It may be safe to assume that there will be a very few changes in the T20 that played in South Africa in November.
It is learnt that the players from the recently concluded Australia tour, who are certain to play in the Champions Trophy, will play directly in the three-match ODI series.
The biggest challenge in front of the selectors is zeroing down on the wicketkeeping options followed by balancing the lower middle order with spinners who can bat well.
KL Rahul had become the preferred wicketkeeper in ODIs during Rishabh Pant‘s absence from international cricket. However, Rahul’s fitness to keep wickets for longer periods became a cause of concern after the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Rahul was sidelined from the game for a couple of months last year – his hamstring struggled to cope with the workload of wicketkeeping. Interestingly, Pant replaced him in the XI in the last ODI India played in Sri Lanka in August last year.
Sources said Pant being a left-hander provides variety in the middle order. It will be interesting to see if the selectors go with Rahul if he doesn’t keep wickets. Sources also said that Rahul may be rested to be in shape for Champions Trophy.
That decision will influence the chances of Sanju Samson and Shreyas Iyer in the middle order. Samson hit a hundred in the last ODI he played for India in South Africa in December 2023.
But that innings came at No. 3 when regular top order of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill were rested for the series. It is understood that coach Gautam Gambhir is very fond of Samson and wants to use him in formats other than T20s.
The selectors are very eager to get Yashashvi Jaiswal, who is yet to make his ODI debut, in the ODI team. So, it could come down to Samson or Jaiswal being picked as the reserve opener.
Picking the spin attack for pitches in Dubai isn’t going to be straightforward. The team management likes to have batting cushion down the order. This is where Ravindra Jadeja‘s credentials will be assessed. Axar Patel has been the more consistent spin-bowling allrounder. Washington Sundar’s consistency with his off-break is something Gambhir wants to invest more in.
The clincher could be Kuldeep Yadav’s fitness. It is learnt that he is recovering well from his left groin injury and started bowling at the National Cricket Academy. It will be interesting to see if the selectors are ready to take him directly to the Champions Trophy should he not be available for the ODI series at home.
The selectors have also kept a close watch on Varun Chakravarthy’s progress along with Ravi Bishnoi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. If anything, Chakravarthy’s mobility in the field for 50 overs and limited batting ability could hinder his chances.
There’s some concern over the fitness of pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami. While the BCCI has chosen against divulging the nature of Bumrah’s injury, Shami has been playing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy after having reported frequent instances of swollen knees while bowling in domestic cricket upon his return from a heel injury that kept him away from international cricket since the last ODI World Cup.
Arshdeep Singh seems the only certain pacer to travel to Dubai with Mukesh Kumar, Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna all jostling for places.