Cup in mind, India to name squad

TEAM SELECTION With five ODIS to go before quadrennial event, selectors are likely to pick full-strength squad vs Australia

MUMBAI: Having tried out all possible players and combinations, the playing XI and the back-up options for the 2019 World Cup are all but f i rmed up i n t he minds of the captain, coach and the selectors. When the MSK Prasad-led selection committee sits down on Thursday to pick the squad for the five-match ODI series against Australia, it will be with the intention of putting out their full strength squad in what is the final dress rehearsal for the 50-over mega event starting on May 30.

At the most, the selectors may look at one or two spots to clear their doubts. One of them c ould be t o have a back- up option in the pace department or to have a left-arm pacer for variety, where their original plan of experimenting with Khaleel Ahmed hasn’t fully paid off. With the Rajasthan pacer still far from a finished product, and at the same time Jaydev Undakat having done well at the domestic st age, t he I ndian think-tank is tempted with the idea of checking out the seasoned Saurashtra pacer against the Australians.

UNADKAT FACTOR Unadkat was the standout performer for his state team, Saurashtra, taking 39 wickets as his team finished runners-up to Vidarbha. The Ranji tournament is a different format, but he is highly rated in white ball cricket as well, being much in demand in the IPL as a deathovers specialist.

Unadkat has the variations, he is in form and the quality which the selectors will be looking to monitor is his temperament in handling the pressure of international cricket. However, the left-arm paceman’s previous India appearances should help him in that aspect.

The other position where the selectors could still be undecided is the back-up wicketkeeper’s position, where it is a straight contest between Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pant. The selectors’ original choice was Karthik, which is why they have retained him in the squad continuously in the lead up to the World Cup.

It will look silly to have three wicketkeepers in the squad like India did on their last tour, but Pant has posed a dilemma for the selectors by producing performances which are difficult to ignore, in Tests and T20 games. The ODI series against Australia which starts on March 2 will help the selectors firm up their minds. PANDYA FAVOURITE Vijay Shankar did well in New Zealand but with original choice for the all-rounder’s spot, Hardik Pandya, back, the selectors may find it difficult to accommodate him. Pandya has the edge in bowling as well with his extra pace and experience.

There are about 50 days to go f o r t h e Wor l d C u p s q u a d announcement deadline, April 23.

The series starts with the two T20IS and Prasad’s committee is likely to rest a few key players for that. Opener Rohit Sharma is likely to be given a muchneeded break, and so too MS Dhoni. KL Rahul is expected to be back in the mix as he will be important as a back-up opener.

PACE SPEARHEAD

In t h e p a c e d e p a r t me n t , refreshed after a break, spearhead Jasprit Bumrah should be picked to team up with Moham- med Shami. If the selectors choose to rest Bhuvneshwar Kumar then Umesh Yadav could get a look-in as a reward for his fine Ranji Trophy showing.

Apart from the T20 games, the team is likely to be for the f i rst t hree ODIS before t he selectors will again take a call on resting some players depending on the feedback received on their workload.

After sealing the series wins