On Friday (15 February), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the Indian squad for the upcoming home limited-overs series against Australia. Later, the Indian cricket commentator and journalist Harsha Bhogle has given his opinion about the team selection.
India will play the two-match T20I series and five-match ODI series against Australia at home from 24 February to 13 March. After this series, India’s next International assignment will be the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup in England and Wales. So, the team selection for the upcoming Australia series was very crucial as it would give a big picture for the forthcoming World Cup squad selection.
Notably, the young wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant is in every squad for the upcoming Australia series. Meanwhile, another in-form cricketer Dinesh Karthik missed out the ODI squad, but he is in the T20I squad.
I hope this is not a final decision – Harsha Bhogle
After the BCCI announced the limited-overs squads for the forthcoming home series against Australia, Harsha Bhogle gave his opinion. He feels that Rishabh Pant needs enough game time before making his final assessment before the World Cup squad selection. However, Harsha Bhogle is unsure about Rishabh Pant’s place in the playing XI. But he feels that the young man can replace either Kedar Jadhav or Ambati Rayudu in the ODI squad.
Moreover, Harsha Bhogle is hoping that the present ODI squad shouldn’t be the World Cup squad. He feels that Dinesh Karthik deserves a spot for the World Cup.
On his official Twitter account, Harsha Bhogle posted, “Now that Rishabh Pant has been picked, and needs game time to be assessed for a World Cup spot, I wonder whose place he will get. Jadhav? Or Rayudu? Irrespective of that, I hope this is not a final decision on Dinesh Karthik because that will be very hard on him”
Now that Rishabh Pant has been picked, and needs game time to be assessed for a World Cup spot, I wonder whose place he will get. Jadhav? Or Rayudu? Irrespective of that, I hope this is not a final decision on Dinesh Karthik because that will be very hard on him
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 15, 2019
The 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup will run from 30 May to 14 July where ten teams will participate. The two-time World Cup champion India will begin their World Cup journey on 5 June against South Africa at Southampton. Many experts believe that India is one of the favourite sides in the forthcoming World Cup. At present, India is an in-form team, and they are in the second position in the ODI ranking.