Rahane expected to anchor young side
WARMING UP The Mumbai batsman would look to hit some form ahead of the ODI series
After the electric atmosphere for the first warm-up held on Tuesday, things will be back to normal in Thursday’s tour game scheduled at the Brabourne Stadium in preparation for the limited overs series.
After fielding a star-studded team in the tour opener, captain Ajinkya Rahane will be the only player from the India A side who is part of the home team’s oneday squad to face England.
Apart from the India A captain, the focus in the game against England will be mainly on the displays of three left-hand batsmen - Suresh Raina, Rishabh Pant and Ishan Kishan.
In terms of having a talent pool, India is overflowing this season in every format. Suddenly, no one wants to miss a match because the replacements coming in are making such an impact that walking back has become a challenge.
It has led to a healthy competition among the players, and Rahane and Raina will be feeling a little bit of pressure from the GenNext. While the India A team is brimming with young talent, in Pant and Ishan, there are two who are already pushing the seniors. Already picked in India’s Twenty20 team, it is a perfect platform for Pant to warm up for the challenge against England. He has been an unstoppable force in domestic cricket, occupying the No 4 spot among the highest run-getters in Ranji Trophy.
His captain at the 2016 Under-19 World Cup, Ishan, is not far behind notching up 799 runs for Jharkhand. The two are hot on Dhoni’s heels, being wicketkeeper-batsmen and given the rate at which they get their runs. Not to mention, the competition they are having among themselves. Pant started the season with a triple century and the 18-year-old Ishan answered with a 273.
It’s not just about these two guys, the 21-year-old Deepak Hooda from Baroda has a top score of 293 not out during a smashing season where he averaged 71.72. Raina has been plagued by injuries and illness, missing out on a major part of the first-class season. His last ODI was in October 2015, and he would need a good score to serve a reminder to the selectors to be in fray for Champions Trophy.
This game will be an opportunity for Rahane to find his rhythm and prove his fitness as he coming back after a fracture to his right index finger.