New Delhi: Mahendra Singh Dhoni may have put his international retirement on hold as he is unlikely to be selected for India’s three-match T20 home series against South Africa starting September 15 in Dharamsala.
The team for the series is expected to be picked September 4. The remaining two games will be played at Mohali (September 18) and Bangalore (September 22).
In all likelihood, the squad that blanked West Indies 3-0 recently is likely to be retained (subject to fitness) and the selection committee wants to continue building towards World T20 in Australia in October 2020.
“There are only 22 T20 Internationals before India play their first World T20 game and selectors are clear in their vision that it’s time to move forward,” a senior BCCI official privy to developments in selection committee told this agency Wednesday. “They are planning on getting a pool of three keepers ready for limited overs, especially T20s,” the official added.
It is still not clear whether the BCCI brass or the selection committee will speak to Mahendra Singh Dhoni to enquire about his plans like they did before the West Indies tour. The former captain had then informed that he would be taking a break to serve his regiment in Territorial Army.
“Retirement is an individual decision and selectors or for that matter, no one has any right to decide on that front. But they have every right to decide the roadmap for the 2020 World T20 and that’s to give Rishabh Pant maximum chances,” the official explained.
It is learnt that the second and third option for the senior selection committee is Sanju Samson, whose batting is considered to be on par with Rishabh Pant and India A regular Ishan Kishan.
While Rishabh Pant remains the first choice across formats, the selectors are also factoring in the fitness and workload management. A couple of selectors will be in Thiruvananthapuram for the A series and Samson’s performance will be keenly watched.
As far as batting is concerned, the selectors believes that Sanju Samson is ready for top level cricket but his wicket-keeping is still work in progress.
“Pant scored a fifty in the last T20 that he played. Ishan Kishan is in the A set-up. Why do we need any other options? There is no option of looking back now as we need big hitters on huge Australian grounds during the World Cup,” the official pointed out.
Agencies