Squad Assessment of the Rohit Sharma led Team India for the Nidahas Trophy

The BCCI selection committee announced a 15 member squad for the upcoming Nidahas trophy in Sri Lanka. After completing a comprehensive victory against South Africa in the limited overs format the next assignment form the men in blue is the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. The selectors have made as much as seven changes from the previous T20 Indian side.

The Indian team will face hosts Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in a T20 tri-series. However, the selectors have rested some of the big names in the Indian line up. the likes of Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya and others have been rested and the team will be led by opener Rohit Sharma.

Sharma’s other opening partner, Shikhar Dhawan has been appointed as the vice-captain of the side.

The selectors have called up youngsters who have been awarded a call up for their impressive performances in the domestic season.

Chairman of the selection committee, MSK Prasad has suggested that the selection has been done on the basis of the work-load of the players.

He said, “We’ve kept in mind the workload and upcoming schedule while finalizing the team for Nidahas Trophy. The high-performance team has suggested that adequate rest should be given to our fast bowlers to help improve athletic performance, maximize rest and prevent injury. Mr. MS Dhoni was not available for selection as he had requested for rest.”

However, the selection has raised some question regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the Indian team.

Let’s have a look at the Strengths of the team selected for the upcoming tri-series-:

• The selectors have chosen youth over experience for the upcoming tri-series and have picked up the likes of Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Rishabh Pant and Vijay Shankar. The youngsters have been picked up on the basis of their performances in the domestic circuit.
• The batting department is powerful. With the inclusion of Deepak Hooda in the side, the selectors have added a hitter in the middle order. The selectors have gone with the trusted pair of Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma at the top of the order.
• The selectors have also seen this series as an opportunity to try a new wicket-keeper and have picked up Rishabh Pant as MS Dhoni’s replacement in the side. Dinesh Karthik has also been picked for the tour.

Weakness 

• Rohit Sharma is the most experienced player in the side with 74 T20I’s. With most of the seniors being rested, the onus will now be on the youngsters to take up the responsibility and take the team towards victory.
• The bowling department looks like a weak link in the current side. All the key bowlers have been rested and Jaydev Unadkat is the most experienced bowler with 6 T20I’s.
• Vijay Shankar has been selected as the lone all-round option in the side. MSK Prasad has said that Hardik Pandya has been rested after a long grueling tour of South Africa. Shankar has not played any match for the senior side.

Here’s the news feed:

India Squad For Nidahas Trophy Announced

SA vs IND 2018: “India’s best team to have toured South Africa”- Daryll Cullinan