The national selection committee under Sandeep Patil is set to leave it to limited overs captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni to decide on whether he will make himself available or not for the short tour of Zimbabwe starting June 5.
It has been learnt that the five selectors have spoken to most of the senior India regulars intimating them that they are keen to send a new look junior team to the African nation in order to test bench strength. According to a reliable BCCI source, the selection committee is likely to only make an exception for MSD keeping in mind that he will not have any international assignment till March next year.
“Yes, it is true that selectors have spoken to some of the senior Indian players intimating them that they would be looking at juniors during this tour. While Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan are set to be rested, there are some seniors, who have made themselves available for the tour. But selectors told them that only exception may be made for Dhoni, who no longer plays Test cricket,” a top BCCI source said. The selection committee has left it completely on Dhoni to decide whether he wants to go or not. He is free to opt out as he has also played a lot of cricket but if he does not go, he will not have a single limited overs assignment till March 2017. In case Dhoni is reluctant, then Ajinkya Rahane is the likely choice to lead the side,” the source added.