Dhoni gives little away on Mohit’s inclusion

MOHIT WAS INDIA’S

BEST PACER AT THE WACA ON FRIDAY. BUT HE IS NOT PART OF THE WORLD CUP SQUAD. UMESH YADAV AND BHUVNESHWAR KUMAR ARE, BUT THEY CHATTED AWAY ON THE BENCH.

PERTH: Ishant Sharma walked around the WACA oval aimlessly ahead of the match against England on Friday, watching his teammates train. It was clear he would miss the game.

Mohit Sharma bowled to Bharat Arun with some enthusiasm. He knew he would fill in for Ishant.

The Haryana bowler bowled as fast as he ever has, clocking over 140kmph consistently in his first spell.

When India needed an early wicket, he sent the in-form Ian Bell back. The right-arm pacer also returned to bounce out the set James Taylor late in the innings to threaten one final time.

MISSING FROM LIST

Mohit was India’s best pacer at the WACA on Friday. But he is not part of the World Cup squad.

Umesh Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar are, but they chatted away on the bench.

Apart from keeping Mohit ready in case he has to replace Ishant or one of the other pacers for the mega event, playing him ahead of the members from the squad made little sense.

Captain MS Dhoni could only mock when probed about Mohit taking the field ahead of the other two pacers in the squad.

“So who should have played (if not Mohit),” Dhoni said with a wry smile. “Ishant developed a sore knee at the nets on Thursday. We did not want to risk the niggle and turn it into an injury. According to the physio, he should be fit in four days.”

So were Bhuvneshwar and Umesh unfit? “They are,” said Dhoni. Unwilling to answer questions on the topic, he looked away.

But there had to be a reason for Mohit’s inclusion? “There has to be a reason, no? That’s why they haven’t played,” Dhoni quipped, almost repeating the question.

GOOD REASON?

After a few more questions were answered, a slightly detailed explanation followed. “With Bhuvi struggling a bit, it puts added pressure on the bowling line-up,” said a reluctant Dhoni.

Mohit put in a performance worthy of staying in contention for selection if an opportunity drops by.

But his selection still mystified in what was India’s final international game ahead of the World Cup.