Dropped or rested? Five India players face uncertain future

While the likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been rested for India’s tour of Zimbabwe next month, there are some other players whose status in the team is more unclear. It is doubtful whether they have been rested or dropped. As many as six members of India’s World T20 squad – Ashish Nehra, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Suresh Raina, Hardik Pandya and Pawan Negi – do not feature in either the limited-overs squad named for the Zimbabwe tour or the Test squad named for the subsequent tour of West Indies.

As for Nehra, he has been ruled out with an injury – initial reports suggest that he has responded well to the knee surgery that was required, but it is certain that he shall be out of action for the near future. With his recent form, he shall possibly be swiftly named in the team whenever he recovers. But what about the other five?

A BCCI source has explained the exclusion of youngsters Pandya and Negi by pointing towards their below-par IPL showing this year, reports ESPNCricinfo. Pandya’s 44 runs and three wickets from 11 matches for Mumbai Indians this year was a far cry from his breakthrough effort last season, and Negi’s 57 runs and 1 wicket was considered to be too low a return on the Rs.8.5cr Delhi Daredevils had invested on him.

"The IPL is definitely one of our premier domestic tournaments,” the source said. “Fourteen matches is a pretty good opportunity to showcase a player's talent. One thing is for sure - someone who is doing exceptionally well at that stage will get picked and lack of form will also be a reason.”

He also said that the IPL had not been considered the sole criterion for selection for the Zimbabwe series, but that it had been considered as an India ‘A’ tour.

“We have not missed someone who has performed in the past and at the same time we have rewarded those who have done well currently, like Faiz Fazal or Kedar Jadhav. Their selections had nothing to do with the IPL."

‘Hardik, Negi still in scheme of things’

Pandya and Bumrah have been two regular players in India’s limited-overs matches this year to have made their debut this year. While Bumrah continues to find favour, Pandya has not enjoyed similar luck. However, the source explained that Hardik had also been given some time to recuperate from the fatigue he would have picked up from his India commitments, more mentally than physically.

"I feel Hardik has got what it takes to be a good allrounder but I think he needs some space to think. The issue is he is not in form right now and it will be undue pressure on him if he still continues. He has not been performing in 14 games, for almost 45-50 days. Mentally also, he might have been drained had he been asked to pull up his socks and get ready for an international call."

He, however, stressed that the door was still firmly open for the two youngsters. "Hardik and Negi are still young. They are hardly 22-23 so they will make it. The moment they do well again they will be in the scheme of things.

"Once you are away from the game you will understand yourself much better. There is no doubt that once a player plays for the country he comes into the top bracket and he knows what it takes to do well at this level."

‘We are looking at the future of Indian cricket’

There was no such assurance forthcoming on the futures of some of India’s more battle weary campaigners – Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh. Despite them having turned in impressive performances in the ongoing IPL, might this spell the end of the road for their international careers?

Raina’s snub is a surprise because he has been lately proving himself as captain of Gujarat Lions, also scoring 397 runs in the season. There has been no response forthcoming on Raina, but Chief Selector Sandeep Patil had more ominous words for Yuvraj and Harbhajan.

When asked if this was the end of their international careers, he said, "The selectors have no right to tell any player when to retire. The selectors have the right to pick the players, looking at their form, performance and fitness. We had selected Harbhajan and Yuvraj looking at them for the T20 World Cup, now we are looking at the future of Indian cricket but that doesn't mean that these names will not be considered.”

There was one more interesting moment from the press conference where the India team was announced. Newly convened BCCI Secretary Ajay Shirke intervened, somewhat more aggressively than warranted, when a question was thrown at the selectors regarding Kohli’s non-inclusion.

He said, "Let us not look things that way please. I request. He is one of our top players. If there is a medical report in the middle of a tournament and he has been given a certain medical advice, let us not turn everything upside down, let's not give it an angle that he is ready to play in the IPL and not for India. I must clarify because doubts may arise."