India vs Australia 2019: Workload on Mind as BCCI Selectors to Meet on February 15 to Pick T20I, ODI Squad
Published - 12 Feb 2019, 03:43 PM | Updated - 22 Aug 2024, 11:59 PM
The BCCI selectors will meet on February 15th in Mumbai to pick the T20I and ODI squad for the Australia series, which begins on February 24th. Meanwhile, the workload on the players will be on everyone’s mind, considering the recently-concluded tours Down Under and the forthcoming IPL 2019. Also, keeping the 2019 World Cup in mind, scheduled to start on May 30 in England and Wales; the selectors need to give their preferred 15 Indian players some time off the field. In the quest to maintain the balance, the BCCI selectors could rest a few of the star players; including Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan, as per reports.
Australian tour not to be taken lightly – BCCI selectors
As a few of the seniors could be given time off from cricket, not all could be on the rest. As the BCCI will not want the visiting Australia team to take the upper hand leading into the World Cup. Though the Aussies might play Pakistan in a short ODI series after touring India, it will be Men in Blue’s last international assignment before the 2019 World Cup begins.
A source close to the BCCI’s told Hindustan Times, the selectors will give priority to the workload on the Indian players. He further said,
“Workload management of the senior players will definitely be the main area of discussion as we all know that the Indians have been on the road and the selectors and team management have made a conscious effort to ensure that the players get ample rest between games and series. Like you saw, regular skipper Virat Kohli was rested for the back end of the New Zealand series. You might see a Rohit Sharma rested for some games here.”
The source added a series win over India could boost Australia’s confidence leading into the mega event; something which as an opposition, they would not want.
“But it is also important to note that the Indians would want to keep the foot on the pedal and ensure that they don’t give the Australians any momentum going into the World Cup. A good series against India would mean a confidence booster for the team. So, there has to be a balance so that the composition of the team is not affected,” he explained.
Pant, Bumrah set to get included
Off the players who could make a comeback, Jasprit Bumrah’s name should be on the top; along with the India captain, Virat Kohli. Apart from them, the India openers, KL Rahul or even Ajinkya Rahane could return to the ODI setup. Even during the New Zealand series, team India head coach, Ravi Shastri spoke on the seniors getting some rest. Moreover, he reckoned giving more game time to Rishabh Pant or Dinesh Karthik could solve the purpose.
Of late, the chief selector, MSK Prasad listed out a few names who remain in contention for the 2019 World Cup. Among them, Rishabh Pant, Ajinkya Rahane and even Vijay Shankar could find a place. Now, let’s see who all gets the rest and who all returns to the Australia ODIs, T20Is.
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