CCI chief selector MSK Prasad on Thursday gave a clear indication on where they stand regarding the future of former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni by selecting young Sanju Samson as a backup wicketkeeper for Rishabh Pant in the T20I squad for the upcoming Bangladesh series.
Dhoni was not picked for the three-match series against Bangladesh and it is yet not clear whether the 39-year-old wicketkeeper made himself available for selection or not. Prasad though, stated that they are looking for younger options in the shortest format with Pant being the man in focus for them.
“We are moving on we are very clear,” Prasad told reporters after announcing the T20I and Test squads. “Post World Cup we have been clear. We started backing (Rishabh) Pant and wanted to see him do well. He may not have had the best of matches but we are clear, we are focusing on him only.”
India’s squad for T20I series against Bangladesh: Rohit Sharma(Capt), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant(wk), Washington Sundar, Krunal Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal, Rahul Chahar, Deepak Chahar, Khaleel Ahmed, Shivam Dube, Shardul Thakur
Dhoni has not played any form of cricket since India’s exit from the semi-finals of the 2019 World Cup in England in July. He took a break from the sport to train with his regiment in the Territorial Indian Army after which he made himself unavailable for the limited-overs series against South Africa at home.
The selectors also named uncapped Shivam Dubey in the 15-man squad for the upcoming series which starts from November 3, and have rested captain Virat Kohli. Rohit Sharma will lead the Indian team in the absence of Kohli, who will return to lead the team in the 2 Tests against Bangladesh.
“We’re looking at younger options after the World Cup, so you can understand our thought process. We definitely had a chat with Dhoni and he also endorses our view of backing youngsters,” Prasad said.
Pant has been in poor form with the bat this year in limited-overs cricket and has failed to make an impact whenever he has been given an opportunity. His wicketkeeping skills are improving but there is still a lot of scope of improvement.
In 9 ODIs this year, Pant has managed just 188 runs in 8 innings at an average of 23.50 with 48 being his highest score. In the 10 T20Is that he has played in 2019, Pant has managed 168 runs at 21 with one half-century to his name.
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