left-hander dropped from ODI team for Asia Cup; Yuvi in World T20 squad
Pacer Ishant Sharma and Suresh Raina were dropped from the Indian one day international (ODI) squad for the Asia Cup scheduled in the latter part of the month. While Sharma was also not a part of the World T-20 side which will follow the tournament, Raina made it. Both tournaments will be held in Bangladesh. Cheteshwar Pujara made it to the Indian ODI squad while veteran left-hander Yuvraj Singh would be a part of the T-20 squad but was left out of the ODI squad. He hasn;t been able to return since being dropped after the Australia series last year.
Rookie pacer Ishwar Pandey, all-rounder Stuart Binny and fast bowler Varun Aaron retained their place in the ODI squad announced by BCCI Secretary Sanjay Patel after a meeting of the selection committee here. Opener Gautam Gambhir and veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who were picked in the Rest of India for Irani Trophy, were not named in the ODI squad.
The biggest casualty was, however, Ishant, who has been drawing flak for his poor performance in the limited overs format, as he was dropped from both the teams to be captained by Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The axe on Raina was also largely expected as the left-hander has been in wretched form for quite a while now. In fact he was dropped midway through the ODI series against New Zealand last month which
India lost 0-4. Raina has scored only one half-century (against Zimbabwe) in the last 24 ODIs he has played. Raina’s poor form has prompted the selectors to turn to Pujara, who has been a prolific scorer in Tests. Pujara’s technique and his ability to score according to situation will provide some much-needed stability to the Indian top order which failed miserably in the recent ODI series against New Zealand.
The selectors also reposed faith on off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin who has not been very successful in overseas conditions. Ashwin found a place in both the ODI and T20 squad.
The pace department looks a trifle inexperienced with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Varun Aaron and Ishwar Pandey forming the line-up. The 24-year-old Bhuvneshwar, who has played six Tests and 31 ODIs, will be the spearhead in Ishant’s absence. leg-spinner Amit Mishra has found a place in both the ODI and T20 squads but has not featured in any of the formats for a while despite being a part of the side.
The selectors have stuck to the opening combination of Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma in both the ODI and T20 teams while Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Raina and Yuvraj make up the middle-order in the T20 squad. Dhoni is the lone specialist wicket-keeper in both the squads although Ambati Rayudu can don the gloves if necessary.
Squads
ICC World T20: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (C), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Stuart Binny, Amit Mishra, Mohit Sharma, Varun Aaron
Asia Cup: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (C), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Chetshwar Pujara, Ambati Rayudu, Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Varun Aaron, Stuart Binny, Amit Mishra, Ishwar Pandey.