The Indian cricket team for the Nidahas Trophy, Bangladesh (starting March 6) has been announced and big names like Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni are missing. The team that will play the tri-nation T20I series does not feature big stars of India. Four of the six players rested are regular faces in the India setup. Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah along with the two big stars (Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni) will be missing in the squad. It is more like a second XI that would be touring Bangladesh.
Deepak Hooda has received his maiden international call and will travel with the team as a reserve wicketkeeper. Washington Sundar, Mohammad Siraj, Rishabh Pant and Vijay Shankar have also been included in the 15-member squad.
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Meanwhile, after hammering South Africa in the recently-concluded T20I series 2-1, Team India will be on a high and will look to carry the momentum forward. It is a big opportunity for the newbies to make a mark and stake a claim for future.
TEAM: Rohit Sharma (Capt), Shikhar Dhawan (vc), KL Rahul, Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Vijay Shankar, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammad Siraj, Rishabh Pant (wk). pic.twitter.com/9l9sTnXOb3
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 25, 2018
So, it seems in all probability, Pant, who has been in roaring form, will get a go. In that case, Dinesh Karthik will feature as a pure batsman. It is also a great opportunity for Suresh Raina to impress the selectors again, not that he has not done so in South Africa.
What this selection indicates are two things — Indian management trusts its bench strength and they are not going to push stars like Virat and Dhoni, considering their value to the team.
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India T20I squad for Nidahas Trophy:
Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shikhar Dhawan (vc), KL Rahul, Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik, Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Vijay Shankar, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohd Siraj, Rishabh Pant
