Shikhar Dhawan And Rishabh Pant Mainly Under Scanner As Selectors Gather To Pick The Squad for Windies Series

The Indian team is currently playing against Bangladesh in a two-Test series. India will square off against the Tigers in their first-ever day and night Test at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata starting from 22nd November. With regards to the subsequent series against the Windies, Shikhar Dhawan’s lean patch could come under the scanner.

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The news of Rohit Sharma receiving a rest ahead from the 50-over setup is likely on the cards to manage his workload. With the incoming Australians, next year and the tour of New Zealand looming ahead, the selectors may not risk him for the series against the Caribbeans. The limited-overs vice-captain has played 25 ODIs and 11 T20 internationals in the current calendar year.

Shikhar Dhawan’s recent form has been a cause of concern. He was starting to find his stride in the World Cup, having scored a blistering century against Australia at the Oval in London. However, a finger injury in the same match forced him out of the entire tournament. Since then, the southpaw has struggled to get into the flow. Moreover, the 34-year old’s form has dipped further in the domestic circuit with scores of 0, 9, 19, and 35 in the National T20 Championship.

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In the three-match ODI series in the Windies after the World Cup, he scored 38 runs in three games. Dhawan notched up scores 41 (42), 31 (27), and 19 (16) against Bangladesh in the three-game T20 series; however, he barely looked in form. With age also not on his side, it could be time that the selectors look to blood KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal as their back up openers.

Rishab Pant’s spot hangs in the balance:

Another member in Rishab Pant who finds himself equally on the firing line. As much as the 21-year old comes with plenty of promise each time, he seems entirely out of form on the crease. The Indian think-tank have been widely criticized for not handing Sanju Samson one chance. If Pant’s performance with the bat hasn’t been up to the mark, his display behind the stumps has been lacklustre as well.

Veteran MS Dhoni has already returned to the nets, and Pant faces stiff competition for his place with Sanju Samson from one side and MS Dhoni from the other. The selectors will pick up the squad for the Windies tour on Thursday (21st November).  The series starts with a T20 international in Mumbai on 6th December. The ensuing short format games will be played in Thiruvananthapuram and Hyderabad on 8th and 11th respectively. The two sides will meet for the ODI series on 15th December in Chennai with the second and third to take place on 18th and 22nd in Vishakhapatnam and Cuttack respectively.