BCCI announce squad as Kohli returns | Photo Credit: AP, File Image The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday announced Team India’s 15-man squad for the upcoming home series against Australia, where the Men in Blue will play two T20Is and five ODIs against the Aussies. While skipper Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah returns for the entire limited-overs series, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant are part of the ODI fixtures against Australia. Meanwhile, Dinesh Karthik has been rested for the ODIs, so does Bhuvneshwar Kumar but only for the initial leg of the contest. Contrary to the ongoing reports, Rohit Sharma will be part of the entire series against Australia and so will be his opening partner Shikhar Dhawan. Rahul and Pant earn a recall to the ODI team to vie for the remaining spots for the World Cup. Rahul is back after a disappointing 2018 where he scored only 69 runs in three matches. Meanwhile, Pant is back into the ODI format after missing out both the series Down Under. On the other hand, Karthik and Khaleel Ahmed have been left out of the ODI series against Australia at home, while Bhuvneshwar has been rested for the T20I contest and the first two ODIs. In his absence, Siddharth Kaul will fill in his space. Shubhman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Siraj have also been left out of the series. Also, Vijay Shankar has been included in the five-match ODI contest against Aaron Finch's side. India’s squad for T20I series against Australia: Virat (Capt), Rohit (vc), KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni (WK), Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Vijay Shankar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Sidharth Kaul, Mayank Markande India’s squad for 1st and 2nd ODI against Australia: Virat Kohli (Capt), Rohit Sharma (vc), Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, MSD (wk), Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohamed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Vijay Shankar, Rishabh Pant, Siddharth Kaul, KL Rahul India’s squad for remaining three ODIs: Virat Kohli (Capt), Rohit Sharma (vc), Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, MSD (wk), Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Vijay Shankar, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant India will play two T20Is and five ODIs against Australia, with the first T20I scheduled to be played on February 24 at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam.<doc-sep>Rishabh Pant went one step closer to living his World Cup dream when the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) chose him ahead of Dinesh Karthik for the upcoming Australia series. The Indian cricket board announced India's 15-member squad for the five-match ODI and two-match T20I home series against Australia on Friday. While Pant was included in both ODI and T20I squads, Karthik was picked just for the shortest format. While Pant is yet to justify his talent in the 50-over format, Karthik, in the last one year, has done everything that would take to make the cut of the ODI team. However, the veteran was criticised for his on-field decision-making during the lost final T20 International against New Zealand in Hamilton. He refused a single when Krunal Pandya was on a rampage at the other end. Karthik later justified the call by saying that he was confident of pulling off a six which didn't happen as India lost by four runs. While it was uncertain why was Karthik dropped from India's ODI team, the Indian cricket fans did not hesitate a bit to express their displeasure over this move as they exploded on Twitter soon after the squad announcement was made on Friday: @BCCI your politics and partiality is so bare for everyone to see. Presenting Pant with an opportunity to play on Indian pitches, is a clear strategy to bury and eliminate DineshKarthik from the world cup squad. School boy politics! #whereisdk #dineshkarthik February 15, 2019 @DineshKarthik sir...I m extremely disappointed for u..u have extremely bad luck with u along with extremely gifted batting..I hope & pray like a #GullyBoy u also have #ApnaTimeAyeega moment...@BCCI couldn't understand this call — Sunny Nandi (@SunnyNandi5) February 15, 2019 Now that Rishabh Pant has been picked, and needs game time to be assessed for a World Cup spot, I wonder whose place he will get. Jadhav? Or Rayudu? Irrespective of that, I hope this is not a final decision on Dinesh Karthik because that will be very hard on him — Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 15, 2019 Really surprised to see Dinesh Karthik dropped for the Australia series! He's been pretty good in recent times. The knock v Australia in Adelaide where he really let Dhoni do his thing in the run chase was superb.#INDvAUS #INDvsAUS — CricBlog (@cric_blog) February 15, 2019 No @DineshKarthik in the squad for last ODI series before World Cup. He did what all has been asked of him still his place in the side is not confirmed. Very very hard on him after performing his duties successfully #IndvsAusSquad — Maharshi (@vmadhavm) February 15, 2019 I just wonder how could selection team Left out a batsman who is having an average around 50 from 2018.This reminds me DK is one of the under rated player .. First of all selection team should understand form is temporary class is permanent..I pick Dinesh Karthik Head over dhawan — Prasanth elumalai (@prasanth9063) February 15, 2019 If you ask anyone - Dinesh Karthik or KL Rahul ? Almost everyone will agree on DK bcz he proved himself in last 1 year but still BCCI dropped him ! Can you please tell us that on what basis you pick KL Rahul in Team again?#INDvAUS — Bhupesh Dave (@Bhupesh_live) February 15, 2019 The Australia series begins with the T20I series followed by the 50-over format. Although the selectors announced two different teams for the first two and last three ODIs, the side that is expected to travel to England will be the one for the last three games of the series. The Australia series starts February 24 with the first T20 International in Visakhapatnam, while the World Cup is scheduled from May 30.<doc-sep>The selector’s committee is led by MSK Prasad. (Source: File Photo) The selector’s committee is led by MSK Prasad. (Source: File Photo) India’s national selection committee chairman MSK Prasad on Friday said that they have narrowed down the options available to 18 cricketers for the upcoming ODI World Cup. He further added that BCCI are in talks with their respective IPL franchises to manage their workload ahead of the mega-event in United Kingdom. Before the World Cup, India’s players will be involved in the heavy duty and draining Indian Premier League (IPL) which starts on March 23 and ends in the middle of May. It gives the players little time to recover for the May 30-July 14 extravaganza. “We have shortlisted 18 players and we will rotate them during the World Cup. As far as workload management is concerned, it is yet to be worked out. There are discussions happening on that front and we will let you know,” said MSK Prasad to reporters after India’s squads for T20Is and ODIs were selected for the Australia series starting February 24. When BCCI’s acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary was asked this question, he admitted that the franchises have diverse views on the matter. “If your question suggests that the franchises will be wary of resting players, it is an issue we will deal with considering it’s a World Cup year. There have been views from franchises and I am not going into specifics,” he said. He also urged the franchises to keep the national interest in mind. “And also considering the fact that all the franchises are Indian franchises, the interest of the country, of doing well at the highest international level, is paramount,” Choudhary said. Whether the IPL franchises who have splashed out millions for the top guns will agree to rest India players in their roster remains to be seen.<doc-sep>
After announcing the Indian squad for the upcoming series against Australia, chairman of the national selection committee, MSK Prasad on Friday revealed that 18 players have been shortlisted for the upcoming ODI World Cup and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is in talks with cricketers' respective Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises to manage the workload. The likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, MS Dhoni, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Hardik Pandya etc are considered sure picks for the mega tournament to be held in England from May 30 to July 14. And the workload management has been one of the hottest topics especially considering the cricketers' participating in the IPL, which starts on March 23. There are reports of ongoing discussions between the BCCI and the IPL franchises to better manage workload for the World Cup hopefuls' during the cash-rich T20 tournament. "We have shortlisted 18 players and we will rotate them during the World Cup. As far as workload management is concerned, it is yet to be worked out. There are discussions happening on that front and we will let you know," Prasad told reporters after selecting various squads for the home limited-overs series against Australia which starts February 24. Whether the franchises will agree to rest top India players on their roster after paying millions to have them has been a subject of debate. When acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary was asked this question, he admitted that the franchises have diverse views on the matter. "If your question suggests that the franchises will be wary of resting players, it is an issue we will deal with considering it's a World Cup year. There have been views from franchises and I am not going into specifics," he said. He also urged the franchises to keep the national interest in mind. "And also considering the fact that all the franchises are Indian franchises, the interest of the country, of doing well at the highest international level, is paramount," Choudhary said. (With PTI inputs) For in-depth, objective and more importantly balanced journalism, Click here to subscribe to Outlook Magazine