WI tour squad: Ball in selectors’ court to decide on ex-India captain’s wishes in key meet
The crucial national selection committee meeting here on Sunday to pick the Indian cricket squad for the West Indies tour will not only provide answers to MS Dhoni's future but also a glimpse into the direction the team will take as it enters a new phase after the World Cup.
Former India captain Dhoni has been at the centre of immense speculation, with questions over how long the 38-year-old wishes to continue playing international cricket only intensifying after India's semifinal exit at the World Cup.
It would've been a surprise had the wicketkeeper-batsman been picked for the low-key West Indies limited-over tour, anyway.
But, with the Honorary Lieutenant Colonel in the Parachute Regiment of the Territorial Army reportedly deciding to take a two-month sabbatical to serve his regiment, the ball now shifts to the selectors' court as to how long they can allow Dhoni to cherry pick matches and series before he calls it a day.
Five Wise Men’s Talking Points
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| With legend MS Dhoni apparently planning to take a break, selectors will have to decide if he can pick and choose series before retiring |
| The No. 4 issue in ODIs remains. Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill or Manish Pandey could be looked at |
| Choice between Rishabh Pant or Wriddhiman Saha as first-choice Test wicketkeeper |
With the T20 World Cup slated next year, the selectors will have to decide on Dhoni's future and chart a roadmap accordingly. A clearer picture on the Dhoni dilemma should emerge from chief selector MSK Prasad after the meeting.
Among other topics of discussion, the No. 4 issue in the ODI team, a position that the selectors failed to fix before the World Cup, remains. Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill or Manish Pandey could be the names for the long term, the first two having age on their side.
Fast bowlers' workload would also be looked at, and there will be a case to rest premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah in at least one or two of the formats.
It also remains to be seen if the selectors stick with Rishabh Pant as the Test wicketkeeper or bring back Wriddhiman Saha, who was the first-choice stumper until he got injured last year.
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