New Delhi: All eyes will be on young batting sensation Prithvi Shaw but senior pros like Ajinkya Rahane and Ravichandran Ashwin will aim to prove themselves to remain relevant in the one-day format when the rejigged Deodhar Trophy consisting of India A, B and C teams starts here Tuesday.
With only 17 ODIs left before India play their first World Cup match in England, the core of the team Indian team is more or less settled, which can be detrimental for the motivation for the star players.
However, for the younger domestic crop it will be the best opportunity to stake their claim for the A tour to New Zealand, next month. While spinner Ravindra Jadeja has managed to make an ODI comeback recently, Ashwin last played for India in an ODI in July 2017.
Ashwin’s statemate and the India A team skipper Dinesh Karthik also faces a similar situation after being dropped for the ongoing West Indies series. The wicket-keeper batsman did not do badly in the chances he got, but with Rishabh Pant doing performing consistently, something extraordinary should be done from Karthik’s side in the Deodhar Trophy if he wants to board the Australia flight next month. Karun Nair would also like to make a strong case for himself after being ignored in England.
Meanwhile, India C skipper and Test vice-captain Rahane having last played for India in ODI in February will also have to do something sensational for the selectors to take notice. Rahane is also potential candidate for the No.4 position where Ambati Rayudu is being preferred at the moment.
However, this edition of the Deodhar Trophy will not see the Vijay Hazare champions unlike earlier seasons which will see three India teams fighting for the title. Overall, four games will be staged including the final October 27. India B will be captained Shreyas Iyer.