Mumbai: Following a challenging three months in international cricket, during which his performance waned and India suffered consecutive Test series defeats under his leadership, captain Rohit Sharma is keenly anticipating a return to limited-overs cricket, particularly One Day Internationals, his preferred format.

“A different format presents a different challenge,” remarked a BCCI official as the selection committee meeting approaches on Saturday. During this meeting, the provisional squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, as well as the three home ODIs against England commencing on February 6, will be finalized, serving as a preparatory phase.

Rohit, aged 37, is expected to continue in his role as captain. Additionally, the squad for five T20Is against England, starting January 22, will also be determined.

ODIs are now infrequently scheduled, necessitating the selectors to revisit their previous assessments. Since the 2023 World Cup, in which Rohit’s team captivated the nation before finishing as runners-up, India has participated in only six ODIs. The primary players have only taken part in one three-match series in Sri Lanka last August, while a second-string team was dispatched for the series in South Africa. In Sri Lanka, Rohit excelled with the bat, effectively confronting the new ball bowlers and asserting dominance during the powerplay, similar to his performance in the World Cup.

Nevertheless, India lost that series, marking Gautam Gambhir's inaugural tenure as head coach, prompting selectors to adopt a more assertive stance regarding the team’s recent shortcomings under the Rohit-Gambhir partnership. Recent performances in other formats may also impact the selection process.

A notable positive is opener Yashasvi Jaiswal. Although he has yet to make his ODI debut and has not played a List A match in over two years, there is a consensus that the left-handed batsman has demonstrated his potential to become a formidable presence across all formats and should not be overlooked. While pairing Jaiswal with Rohit at the top of the order seems appealing, Shubman Gill's ODI statistics are remarkably impressive, boasting 2,328 runs at an average of 58.20 and a strike rate of 101.74.

Selectors may exercise caution in forming judgments regarding cross-format performances. This consideration highlights the case of Shreyas Iyer, who has demonstrated commendable performance in ODI cricket and has been particularly impressive in recent domestic competitions. Additionally, there is Virat Kohli, who, despite facing uncertainty with his off-stump and a downturn in his Test cricket form, remains the third-highest run-scorer in ODI history, boasting an average of 58.18.

KL Rahul's challenge to secure his position extends into ODI cricket as well. After providing middle-order stability during the last World Cup, he was replaced by Rishabh Pant in the final ODI against Sri Lanka. While Pant is expected to retain his place, Rahul may find himself under pressure from the dynamic Sanju Samson, depending on the style of cricket India opts to pursue.

Regarding Hardik Pandya, his bowling fitness has been positively assessed following his performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 50-over tournament, where he bowled 20 overs across three matches at commendable speeds.

While Hardik is essential for maintaining the team's balance, selectors are concerned about Jasprit Bumrah's fitness. He was unable to complete the Sydney Test due to back spasms and has sought advice from Dr. Rowan Schouten, the New Zealand orthopaedic surgeon who performed back surgery on him in 2023. Dr Schouten is coordinating with the BCCI's medical team, and the selectors are awaiting updates. Bumrah is likely to miss the ODIs against England and may be included in the provisional squad for the Champions Trophy, contingent upon his ability to bowl without pain.

Mohammed Shami is on the verge of making a return to competitive cricket. The fast bowler has been sidelined from international play following an impressive performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup, where he claimed a tournament-leading 24 wickets. He has successfully recovered from a heel injury that required surgery, according to an update from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). However, he experienced minor swelling in his left knee, attributed to increased stress on the joint from his bowling activities. Shami has since participated in two eight-over spells for Bengal in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Should he perform without discomfort in Thursday's pre-quarterfinal match against Haryana in Vadodara, with selectors in attendance, his return to the national team could be imminent.

Additionally, there is a fitness concern within the bowling unit. Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav has recently resumed bowling in the nets following surgery on his left groin. If he is found unfit, it may create an opportunity for Ravindra Jadeja. Axar Patel was the chosen left-arm spinner during the series in Sri Lanka and has performed admirably. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar previously stated that Jadeja was ‘rested’ for this series.

“It would have been pointless to take both him and Axar for this short series. We know what Jaddu has done. He’s had a terrific World Cup (T20). So, no, he’s not at all dropped,” he remarked. Nonetheless, it is important to note that both players possess similar skill sets, and the selectors must determine whether both are necessary for the pitches in Dubai, where India will play all their matches. Washington Sundar is expected to retain his position in the squad.

Read Also: AFI Shifts Focus: Athletes to Train at Preferred Locations

HOW DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE? CHOOSE YOUR EMOTICON!