Rohit Sharma will be back for the Indian cricket team to lead the side for the West Indies series but there could be some changes with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and R Ashwin likely to face the axe.
Follow Us
The Indian cricket team is currently in the midst of a slight slump. They lost the Test series 1-2 against South Africa, denying Virat Kohli the chance to win a Test series for the first time in South Africa. Under the captaincy of KL Rahul, India was whitewashed 0-3 in the ODI series. The tour was marred by a miscommunication between BCCI and Virat Kohli. After the Test series loss, Virat Kohli stepped down as the captain of the Test team.
KL Rahul took over as the captain of the Indian cricket team because Rohit Sharma was injured. Rohit underwent rehabilitation for the injury and has looked leaner and fitter in the last couple of weeks. Thus, Rohit Sharma will now be the captain for the first time in an ODI series ever since he was assigned the full-time charge of India’s white-ball teams.
The Indian cricket team might be changed for the three ODIs and three Twenty20 Internationals against West Indies. Although the BCCI is going to meet for the team selection later in the week, it is presumed that changes will be in the air. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Venkatesh Iyer, and Ravichandran Ashwin are under the scanner.
Read – Kevin Pietersen Backs Rohit Sharma as Test Captain
Bhuvneshwar Kumar struggled for rhythm and looked rusty. Venkatesh Iyer, on the other hand, failed to replicate his IPL heroics. The all-rounder struggled in all the games against South Africa. Even R Ashwin was not that effective in the ODI and Test teams.
“You have to remember after the T20 World Cup, Hardik was dropped and not rested because of his fitness. The selectors wanted to send him a message after his underwhelming show at World T20 but he is too good a player to be kept out for long. If not against West Indies, then he will surely be back against Sri Lanka,” a BCCI source stated.
With Hardik Pandya back, there are reports that Jasprit Bumrah might be rested after a heavy workload in the series against South Africa. Ravindra Jadeja, who also missed the series in South Africa due to injury, might be included. Harshal Patel and Avesh Khan, who impressed in IPL 2021, might be included in the T20I side. But, Harshal Patel might be a constant in the team after some superb performances in IPL 2021 and in the series against New Zealand. The three ODIs will be played in Ahmedabad from February 6. The focus will then shift to three T20Is in Kolkata. After the West Indies series, Sri Lanka will come to India for two Tests and three T20Is.
