7 big talking points from indian squad selection for zimbabwe, wi

India need to look at their now annual sojourns to Zimbabwe for limited-overs cricket as an ‘A’ tour. There should therefore be not much heartburn over selections of the squad that will tour

Zimbabwe this year. 1. DHONI SENDS A MESSAGE The fact that Mahendra Singh Dhoni will tour Zimbabwe for the first time since 2005 means that he is keen to stay match-fit. With this being a

Test-heavy year, we could very well as Indians be fast tracked into the future when Dhoni will ultimately quit all forms of cricket. 2. EYE ON 2017 CHAMPIONS TROPHY MS Dhoni may be traveling

to Zimbabwe but overall the limited-overs squad appears to be one which is experimental. With just 10 more ODIs and one more T20I after the Zimbabwe tour, the selectors want to look at all

options before the 2017 Champions Trophy. In doing so the selectors have sent a strong message. 3. FAIZ, KARUN REWARDED The performers in domestic cricket, minus the razmatazz of the IPL,

will get a look-in. So in come the likes of Jayant Yadav, Faiz Fazal and Karun Nair. Faiz is not wanted in the IPL but has been noteworthy in domestic cricket, especially in the Irani Cup.

Karun is a star of the IPL and has toiled for close to five years. Karun did make the India squad as a replacement on the Sri Lanka Test tour last year. Both Faiz and Karun are correct

batsmen. Jayant Yadav, on the other hand, is a bowler who thrives in the longer format of the game. His batting is additional qualification. The others like Mandeep Singh, Kedar Jadhav and

Jaydev Unadkat have not had much to do in the IPL but have been performers for their states in domestic cricket. Only Yuzvendra Chahal has been really picked on the back of his IPL

performances. 4. VETERANS GET A MESSAGE The selectors have given a strong message to stalwarts like Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh that they are looking to the future. They were brought

back for a specific purpose, World Twenty20 2016. Now with that purpose remaining unfulfilled, it is time to look ahead. Similar message has gone to the likes of Gautam Gambhir, Yusuf Pathan

and Robin Uthappa that the selectors have a big basket to pick from for the limited-overs format. 5. SETTLED IN WHITES It is the Test match squad that appears to be more settled than the

limited-overs squads. The Test squad underwent a churn a couple of years ago and since then has settled down well. More or less a similar squad won the Test series in Sri Lanka. 6. SHARDUL’S

DESERVING CALL Pace bowler Shardul Thakur has forced his way after being consistent for Mumbai in Ranji Trophy cricket. He is more of a red ball bowler and has replaced Varun Aaron in the

side. The rest of the Test squad has picked itself having won five of the last seven Tests they played. The selectors have shown rare consistency in choosing Test squads as they have stuck

to the likes of Stuart Binny, showing the faith that captain Virat Kohli has in him. 7. ROHIT, THE BIGGEST QUESTION MARK The only question mark in the Test squad is around the form of Rohit

Sharma in the longer formats. Sharma has flattered to deceive and has thus not made the final XIs. Younger batsman Shreyas Iyer probably deserved a look-in because of the weight of his runs

in Ranji Trophy cricket in the last two seasons. Published: 24 May 2016, 1:19 PM IST