IND vs WI Team Selection : The three-match ODI series between India and West Indies is going to start from September 27 and the T20 series is to be played between the two teams from October 6. For which there is every possibility of the Indian team being selected on Wednesday. During this, the main focus of discussion will be the chance for Rishabh Pant to continue in white-ball cricket and the possible return of fully fit Hardik Pandya to the team. At the same time, this could be the last selection meeting for Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar.
Read:- Will Vaibhav Suryavanshi get a chance in the second T20 or not? India's playing eleven will be like this today
According to media reports, Ajit Agarkar's contract as the Chief Selector of the Indian team is till October 4 and till Tuesday night no senior BCCI official has contacted him. If sources are to be believed, Agarkar is likely to send an email thanking Board Secretary Devajit Saikia for giving him the opportunity to work for three years. This means that this could be the last selection meeting for him because there is no possibility of extending his tenure for one more year. On the other hand, the most difficult task for the Agarkar-led selection committee is going to be to select the team for the 50-over matches.
Eyes set on the future of Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya
Fully fit Hardik Pandya is set to return to competitive cricket on September 20 as he has been selected for India A's three-match ODI series against Australia A in Puducherry from October 6. However, at the time of selecting the ODI team against West Indies, the task of the selection panel will be to decide whether Pandya is ready to bowl 10 overs and field 50 overs in a full international match. If Pandya is not available, the lack of a seam bowling all-rounder will be a problem for the selection committee. The other option, Nitish Kumar Reddy, will be playing the Asian Games in Japan during the ODI series. The third and fourth options – Suryansh Shedge and Venkatesh Iyer – are currently injured.
On the other hand, Rishabh Pant, who has lost his place as vice-captain of the Test team and in white-ball teams due to poor form in the IPL, will have a golden opportunity as Ishan Kishan is in Japan, he may get a chance in the 15-player squad. But, KL Rahul will be the first choice wicketkeeper in ODIs. There is also a possibility of Rahul being made the vice-captain in the absence of Shreyas Iyer. If Pant is unable to make a place in the team, then the selector will choose Dhruv Jurel and send Pant to captain 'Rest of India' in the Irani Cup.
Read:- Seeing Mohsin Naqvi in the Women's Asia Cup final, Indian fans raised slogans of 'trophy thief'…
These players are likely to get a chance
Due to T20 captain Shreyas Iyer being busy in the Asian Games, Rituraj Gaikwad may get a chance to bat at number 4. Yashasvi Jaiswal will be the reserve opener, while Rajat Patidar is likely to be selected as the reserve middle-order batsman. Both Gaikwad and Patidar are also expected to play for India A after the ODI series against West Indies, with Gaikwad captaining the side.
Apart from this, the selectors will have the challenge of choosing between Ravindra Jadeja and Manav Suthar. Jadeja, who was not selected for the ODI series in England, is likely to make a comeback after Harsh Dubey was injured during Central Zone's semi-final match against East Zone in the recent Duleep Trophy. If injured Varun Chakraborty is unable to go to the Asian Games and Kuldeep Yadav is called in his place, then the selector will face a big problem. In such a situation, if they want a wrist spinner, then they may have to consider players like Vipraj Nigam or Zeeshan Ansari.
The fast bowling attack is expected to include the return of Mohammed Siraj, who was not included in the ODI team that toured England, but now he may return along with Gurnoor Brar, Prasidh Krishna and Prince Yadav. All these players played in the previous series. Jasprit Bumrah will not be available due to his commitments in the Asian Games.