The focus will be on IPl performers like Krunal Pandya and Karun Nair for the short tour of Zimbabwe while Mumbai youngster Shreyas Iyer’s Ranji Trophy exploits may get rewarded with a place in the West Indies-bound Test team when selectors announce the squads for the two assignments here on Monday.
The short limited-overs series in Zimbabwe may feature captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni as it could be his last assignment this season given that India are set to play 17 Test matches starting with a four-Test series in the Caribbean. In case Dhoni also asks for rest, Ajinkya Rahane is expected lead the new-look side.
The four-Test assignment for Kohli in the Caribbean is expected to feature tried and tested faces.
Kohli, Murali Vijay, Ajinkya Rahane, Kl Rahul, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Ishant Sharma are some of the certainties in the squad, while the place for extra batsman might go to Iyer, who has amassed 1321 runs at an average of 73.38 in the current Ranji Trophy season having scored 809 runs in previous one.
Naman Ojha is likely to take the second wicketkeeper’s slot while the fight for the third spinner’s slot is between Harbhajan Singh and Jadeja with little to choose between them.
Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron are likely to be the other three pacers apart from Ishant while it will be interesting if Jasprit Bumrah will be considered for the longer version with his ability to bowl yorkers.
According to BCCI sources, for Zimbabwe, the selectors will not be considering seniors like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, R Ashwin and Shikhar Dhawan.
In pace department, Mohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah are certainties while left-arm pacer Barinder Sran with his variety will be like for like replacement for Ashish Nehra.