The Indian selection committee finalized India’s ODI and T20I squads for the upcoming South African series. Jadeja was kept aside in both the squads while Gurkeerat Singh Mann has been picked for the ODI squad following impressive performances with the India A team. Left-arm pacer Sreenath Aravind has been given a call-up to the T20 squad.
“We didn’t discuss Jadeja. But its not like we have forgotten him,” said chief selector Sandeep Patil at a press conference in Bangalore. Jadeja was also not a part of the second string squad that went to Zimbabwe but was part of the squad that played the series before that against Bangladesh.
“Gurkeerat has been picked for his all-round ability. The demand of cricket is to develop more all-rounder. Mann has come out really well in the last two-three years for Punjab and India A. We are happy to see him in the India team,” added Patil.
There was no place for veteran spinner Harbahajan Singh in the ODI squad just as yet but Patil mentioned that he was in contention. “We select the best possible combination. We leave the final XI to be picked by team management and captain. We discussed Bhajji but unfortunately we had to pick 15 players. Maybe if there was 16, anybody could have come in. We give importance to wickets and combination. We cannot have four or five spinners.” he said.
Pacer Mohammed Shami is still recovering from an injury and does not find a spot as yet but Patil said that he will be closely monitored.
A 30-man squad will be present in Bangalore for a preparatory camp ahead of the South Africa series. One of the key factors for the selection committee to address was to pick the T20I squad with a view of the upcoming World T20 next year. Kedar Jadhav and Manish Pandey who did well in the last ODI against Zimbabwe were unfortunate to miss out. Left arm pacer Sreenath Aravind’s inclusion in the T20I squad was seen as a reward for consistent performances in the domestic circuit.
“We wanted have more variations in the side. Looking at the T20 WC, we wanted to give more opportunities to players who have done well in the domestic circuit and also in the triangular and the ongoing India A series. We would like to test and give more opportunities to bowlers to arrive at a best combination before the WC,” opined Patil.
Squads:
India T20I squad: Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Ajinkya Rahane, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (c), Stuart Binny, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Mohit Sharma, Amit Mishra, Sreenath Aravind, Bhuvneshwar Kumar
India ODI squad (for first three ODIs) : MSDhoni (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, Ajinkya Rahane, Stuart Binny, R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Amit Mishra, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav
