The Indian cricket teams for next month's tour of West Indies were announced on Sunday.
The focus seems to be firmly on the future as selectors announced the Indian cricket teams for next month's tour of West Indies on Sunday. Rishabh Pant was named as the preferred wicketkeeper for all three formats with the future of MS Dhoni still shrouded in mystery.
It also appeared to be the end of the road for Dinesh Karthik while Manish Pandey and Shreyas Iyer will get another chance to prove their worth. While the selectors stuck to tried and tested talents in Test squad, the ODI and T20I teams feature some new faces.
India teams for West Indies tour
Tests: Virat Kohli (captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Mayank Agarwal, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav
ODIs: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Lokesh Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kedar Jadhav, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed, Navdeep Saini
T20s: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Lokesh Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant, Krunal Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Rahul Chahar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed, Deepak Chahar, Navdeep Saini
Here's are 5 biggest things we learnt:
1. Rishabh Pant anointed Dhoni's successor
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The teams clearly stated that Rishabh Pant will be "groomed" as India's first-choice keeper across formats in the coming days. Rishabh Pant, who had so far donned the gloves, only in the absence of Wriddhiman Saha in Tests and Dhoni in ODIs and T20Is. He, however, seems now to have become the preferred choice across all three formats. Wriddhiman Saha is back in the Test squad after undergoing a shoulder surgery for an injury and it will interesting to see which gloveman gets the chance to stand behind the wickets for two Test matches.
2. MS Dhoni's future remains a mystery
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With MS Dhoni opting to sit out of the tour, the selectors were spared the pressure of making a call on his future right now. However, the decision has only been postponed and will have be made sooner or later. Amid speculation surrounding Dhoni's retirement, chief selector MSK Prasad on Sunday said the 'legendary cricketer' knows when to retire.
"Retirement is purely individual. A legendary cricketer like MS Dhoni, knows when to retire but what is the future course of action, what is the roadmap that we have to create is in the hands of the selection committee," said Prasad the press conference after the team announcement.
3. No split captaincy for now
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There were talks of India of India going for a split captaincy formula after World Cup. However, with Virat Kohli being named the skipper of all three formats. It seems that selectors have put this issue to rest for now. Kohli, who was initailly rumored to be rested for the limited overs, will be keen solidify his position with great results in ODI and T20I series. However, any failure may bring back the 'Rohit for captain' chorus.
4. The search for No. 4 continues
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For the Indian team, finding a solution to the number four batting conundrum in white ball cricket still remains one the biggest challenge. The selectors have brought back couple of familiar faces to audition for place. While KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant have already played in the role, former contenders Manish Pandey and Shreyas Iyer will also get another chance.
5. New faces and old
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Leg-spinner Rahul Chahar emerged as the lone new face across three formats. He is the younger cousin of seamer Deepak, who is also in the T20 squad. Krunal Pandya who has been in brilliant form in the ongoing unofficial ODI series against West Indies A, have been named in the T20I squad. Navdeep Saini was also rewarded for his great performance for the A side with inclusion in ODI and T20I sides.
Ravindra Jadeja, who impressed the world with his performance at the World Cup, has found a spot in all three squads. Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha, Ishant Sharma, R Ashwin, and Umesh Yadav have returned for the two Tests. Promising batsman Shubman Gill, though, missed out on selection.
