Highlight:
- Dhawan may not be considered in the ODI team
- Rituraj Gaikwad in brilliant form
- Venkatesh Iyer to replace Pandya
Senior opener Shikhar Dhawan’s return to the ODI team will not be easy. The selectors are likely to consider youngster Rituraj Gaikwad for the role of opener. Gaikwad Vijay Hazare, the owner of the orange cap in the IPL, is in great form in the trophy. He has scored three consecutive centuries.
Apart from Rituraj, KKR’s Venkatesh Iyer is also awaiting a call-up to the ODI team. In the absence of Hardik Pandya, Venkatesh will be in the role of all-rounder. Venkatesh scored 2 centuries and a half century in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He is also bowling well. Venkatesh is playing for Madhya Pradesh.
Left-handed batsman Venkatesh is also the opener. But he will get the role of finisher in the Indian team. When Rohit Sharma takes over the captaincy, KL Rahul will be the vice-captain. Both will now be openers. Rituraj will be considered as the third opener. As a left-hander, Venkatesh may also be tempted to play the role of opener from time to time.
In any case, it will not be easy for Dhawan to get a place in the playing XI. Age and physical fitness will be a challenge for the star. With the 2022 T20 World Cup and the 2012 ODI World Cup looming, India will announce their squad for the upcoming series.
It is not enough to play in the IPL alone to reach the Indian team
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