Funny are the ways when the people that should have been rested much earlier are being rested rather late and those that perhaps still have the legs are being told to put their feet up on the couch. In yet another indication that Mahendra Singh Dhoni would like to reduce the average age of his one day team, Virat Kohli has been selected for the one day series against Sri Lanka. Does this mean the end of the road for the above thirty-fives?
A few shoulders could well droop in tomorrow Test knowing this is the last opportunity for some to shine on this tour to Sri Lanka. Ishant Sharma gets a long overdue break. But like Dhoni’s timing to sit out of the Tests, one wonders if Ishant could not have been rested in more inconsequential matches earlier rather than allowed him to cool off right before the Champions Trophy where match practice could have kept him in prime form.
Zaheer Khan comes back and that is a good sign for India, provided he can provide the Indian bowling much needed fillip. At the moment, Ishant Sharma has no choice but to go full steam with Sreesanth still on the injured list and RP Singh losing form and focus. There will be no look in for Munaf Patel either, who really needs to be tested after a successful stint with Rajasthan Royals that made him have a re-look at his fitness and performance.
Also missing the bus is Robin Uthappa which comes as no big surprise. He has not chalked enough runs under his belt to make a case for himself and while one though S. Badrinath may not knocking on the doors, it appears successful Under-19 skipper Virat Kohli is the preferred choice. The wicket keepers go back into obscurity with Dhoni taking back the gloves and the reins of the team.
Sachin Tendulkar cuts a lone figure among the veterans and he too needs runs under his belt, having missed out in the Kitply Cup tri series in Dhaka and the Asia Cup thereafter. While Rahul Dravid is focused on trying to rediscover the intensity that has made him ‘the wall’, there is little chance that he will have a glorious return to the one day circuit as he did earlier. V.V.S. Laxman can remain hopeful and be disappointed after every announcement. But he has not fetched a cluster of runs even in the Test arena and leaves his fielding and running between wickets to rule him out in Dhoni’s book. This leaves Sourav Ganguly who has had a phenomenal comeback but with no assurance from Dhoni.
It would appear Dhoni is determined that youth is the way to go. Virender Sehwag has fought his way into the team in all three forms of the game on the back of a prolific form. If he makes to the final eleven of all three forms of the game this year, it has nothing to do with being listed among the favourites in Dhoni’s black book for sure.
