A fit-again Jasprit Bumrah will lead India’s pace attack in the limited-overs series against Sri Lanka (Twenty20) and Australia (ODIs) in January. Vice-captain Rohit Sharma and pacer Mohammed Shami have got breaks from the series versus the Islanders.
Bumrah was out with a stress fracture in late September. He has now got the green light from India team physio Nitin Patel to play Gujarat’s Ranji Trophy match against Kerala beginning in Surat from Christmas Day.
Chairman of selectors MSK Prasad will be flying to Surat on Tuesday to watch Bumrah’s comeback to competitive cricket.
Shikhar Dhawan is also back in both the squads. The opener will turn up for Delhi in their next Ranji Trophy encounter against Hyderabad starting Wednesday. “Sarandeep Singh will be watching that match,” Prasad said at an informal gathering after squad selection in the capital.
Dhawan had a deep gash on his knee while playing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and had to get 25 stitches. The left-hander has now been declared fit by the National Cricket Academy (NCA).
“Bumrah is back in both the teams for Sri Lanka and Australia and we have rested Rohit and Shami for the Sri Lanka T20s. Sanju Samson will be the back-up opener in T20s,” Prasad said.
India will take on Sri Lanka in three T20Is from January 5, followed by three ODIs against Australia from January 14.
However, it was bad news for the fast-rising Deepak Chahar, who has aggravated his back injury and will be out till the start of IPL XIII. His injury means that Navdeep Saini will continue to be in the squad.
“Against Australia, we have all three openers available — Shikhar, Rohit and KL Rahul,” Prasad added.
Rohit has appeared in 47 matches across formats this year, three more than captain Virat Kohli and a break was long on the cards. While talented opener Prithvi Shaw, back in the mix after serving an eight-month doping ban, will be going to New Zealand with India A, there is still some time before Hardik Pandya recovers from his back surgery.
“As for Hardik, we will have a look at him in the third week of January,” Prasad said, indicating that the all-rounder could only be available from the second half of the New Zealand tour.
The tour comprising, five T20Is, three ODIs and two Tests, gets underway from January 24.
Prasad, however, was tight-lipped when asked if Mahendra Singh Dhoni would be available for selection anytime soon.
“I can’t comment on that. Mahi has to first play to be available for selection,” he said.
Pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar is nursing a sports hernia and Chahar is out till April, but Prasad said there is no cause of concern. Asked who will be the swing bowler, Prasad said the selectors are banking on Shardul Thakur.
