Mumbai, February 15
Rishabh Pant took a giant stride towards realising his World Cup dream when he was picked ahead of veteran Dinesh Karthik in the 15-member ODI squad for the Australia series here today. Besides, KL Rahul all but clinched the reserve opener’s slot for the mega event by earning a recall. While the selectors announced two different teams for the first two and last three ODIs, the side that is expected to travel to England is the one picked for the last three games of the series. The engagement with Australia starts on February 24, with the first T20 International in Visakhapatnam.
Kohli, Bumrah back
Regular captain Virat Kohli and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah are back in the squad for the entire Australia series, and vice-captain Rohit Sharma, despite the speculations that he could be rested for the series, too, was picked. Rookie Punjab leg-spinner Mayank Markande has been picked for the T20I series, his maiden national call-up. “...as a back-up spinner we are looking at him (Markande). So we’ve been grooming him through the India A process,” said chief selector MSK Prasad.
World Cup squad?
However, all eyes were on the ODI squad, which is supposed to be a mirror image of the team that will be travelling to England. Karthik seems to have lost the race to a much younger Pant, who is seen as MS Dhoni’s successor.
Punjab pacer Siddarth Kaul seems to have joined the race for the fourth pacer’s slot at the business end of the preparation cycle. “Siddarth is doing well and is now a part of the mix,” Prasad said. The fact that no left-arm pacer has been picked in the ODI squad suggests Kaul has a good chance to make the World Cup cut. With two wrist-spinners, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal being the automatic selections, there’s no finger spinner in the squad. — PTI
India squads
Name: Mayank Markande(21)
Born: 11 Nov, 1997 (Bathinda)
Bowling style: Leg-spinner
Coach: Maheshinder Sodhi
FC Matches: 7
Wickets: 34
Avg: 21.26
29 Wickets by Mayank Markande on Ranji Trophy debut in 2018-19, the most for Punjab in the season
5/31 Picked up by Markande today for India A vs England Lions in Mysuru. The Indians won the unofficial Test by an innings and 68 runs
Dhoni scalp
MS Dhoni, trapped LBW with a googly, was his first IPL wicket. Markande had been picked up by Mumbai Indians in the IPL auction for Rs 20 lakh
Fast to slow
Markande started as a fast bowler but was not quick enough! During a trial, a coach told him to try to bowl spin, and he agreed
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