Senior Indian cricketers likely to be rested for Zimbabwe tour

Similar to the previous tour in July 2015, Team India’s upcoming trip to Zimbabwe may also contain a horde of newcomers and fringe players. Hindustan Times reported that top cricketers such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin will be given a break to rejuvenate themselves for a hectic season.

With the tour comprising of only limited-overs matches, the selectors could prefer to blood promising youngsters and give them a taste of international cricket. However, there are question marks surrounding the availability of regular limited-overs international (LOI) skipper MS Dhoni.

A source close to the BCCI revealed, “It is more or less certain that both Virat and Rohit will be rested for series against Zimbabwe. They have been playing non-stop cricket for the last six months and are required to be fresh before India embarks on their tour to West Indies.”

Despite Shikhar Dhawan’s recent dip in form which led to him being dropped for the World T20 semi-final at home, he too could be rested. The source added, “The chances of Shikhar Dhawan going for the Zimbabwe tour are also very less.”

Apart from a short T20I series against Sri Lanka in February, Kohli had played in all of India’s matches across the three formats during the previous season. With India set to take part in 17 Tests during the next ten months or so, they need the young captain to be fit and firing on all cylinders.

If Dhoni also skips the tour, Ajinkya Rahane should be given the captaincy while KL Rahul may take the gloves in his LOI debut. The likes of Sarfaraz Khan, Shreyas Iyer and Karun Nair could also find themselves on the plane to Zimbabwe.

In the bowling department, Mohammed Shami might make a long-awaited comeback in a bid to get match practice before the tougher assignments begin. He could be joined by the duo of Mohit Sharma and Harbhajan Singh.

India are scheduled to play three ODIs and three T20Is at the Harare Sports Club Ground against the hosts who are ranked 11th and 12th in the shorter formats.