New Delhi: Shikhar Dhawan who is poorly running out forms in the Hazare Vijay trophy will make the selectors worry but Young Turks Ruturaj Gaikwad and Venkatesh Iyer seems to have all but book their tickets to raise the ODI series three matches against South Africa in January.
While BCCI announced Rohit Sharma as the next captain of the ODI side, the squad for this series has not been resolved.
It still has to be seen how many beginners do the selection of 50-over competitions maintain fatigue and management of workload in mind.
Two names in the midst of the Hazare Cup season Stellar Vijay are Gaikwad and Iyer, who have now hit three and two hundreds of each in the competition so far.
Iyer, on his side, has also taken some important goal, making it quite clear that he is ready to push back the pandya back to this time as the team’s main uses.
It is understood that it is so clear that Iyer, who is a specialist appetizer will find it difficult to enter at the top of the order in front of KL Rahul and Rohit, he must improvise and maybe a bat in number five or six as a designated finisher.
Iyer had taken a role like fish into the water as he struggled in number four against Kerala to score 112 ball 84 and then pushed the envelope further to score 71 balls in number five.
And on Sunday, he surpassed previous efforts by 151 of 113 balls which were no less than 10 six.
“Venkatesh will definitely go to South Africa.
He bowling 9 or 10 overs in each match and with a hardik still recovering, it is the best time to give him a chance and make him fight for bigger events in front,” BCCI Privy source for Discussion of the selection committee told PTI on Sunday.
“The management of the new team really did the right thing in advising him for bats in the middle of the order.
Until now, if he was not hurt, Venkatesh was certainty for South Africa a pendaurer.” Dhawan vs Ruturaj can be a complicated captain Captain Gaikwad has brought the shape of his orange IPL cap into the Hazare trophy with three hundreds of back-to-back which will definitely put the selection committee under a strong pressure to bring it as a back-up opener.
Gaikwad has played two T20 International in Sri Lanka but did not get a chance on Odi.
Even in three T20 Internationals matches against New Zealand, he could not find a place with Rohit Batting above and Kl Rahul and Ishan Kishan became two opening partners.
But now he has a series of big scores 136 versus MP, 154 not out vs Chattisgarh and 124 vs Kerala and will be difficult to ignore.
On the other hand, Dhawan’s struggle has been spoken with a score of 0, 12, 14, 18 and he has never seen in one of the matches.
But if someone sees the trend of how Rahul Dravid handles senior players, just like Ajinkya Rahane and Ishant Sharma get the opportunity to test South Africa, Dhawan may get a nod in Odi.
“Technically, the last time India played 50-Over Series, Dhawan led India and also had a knock on the winner of the match in Sri Lanka.” He has the ability to score right when he returns to the wall.
So, while Gaikwad must be in the squad, I think voters might give one last chance to Dhawan, maybe bring it and give him one or two matches, “said the source.
Odis: Tangguh competition for Dhawan from Ruturaj
