Rohit to lead in T20s, Kohli rested

Mumbai, October 24 

Rohit Sharma will lead India for the T20Is against Bangladesh at home next month with regular captain Virat Kohli rested for the three-match series. Kohli will, however, return to lead the side against Bangladesh for the two Tests, starting from November 14, with the hosts eyeing their 12th consecutive Test series victory at home. World’s top-ranked side India retained the squad that whitewashed South Africa 3-0 at home recently. Kohli’s men lead the points table for the recently-launched World Test Championship, having scripted five wins in as many matches.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni continued to be out of the T20I squad, raising questions on the long-serving wicketkeeper’s future in limited-overs cricket. There has been speculation Dhoni might retire after struggling in the World Cup in England where India were knocked out in the semifinals. Subsequently, he was left out of the squad for the limited-overs series against West Indies and South Africa.

Rishabh Pant has been earmarked as Dhoni’s successor but the 22-year-old has faced flak for letting the team down with his penchant for throwing away his wicket with rash shots. India’s selectors added Kerala wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson, who has played a lone T20I in 2015, to the squad to keep the pressure up on Pant ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup in Australia. “We’re looking at younger options after the World Cup, so you can understand our thought process,” chief selector MSK Prasad said. “We definitely had a chat with Dhoni and he also endorses our view of backing youngsters.” 

Mumbai all-rounder Shivam Dube earned his maiden call-up to the T20 squad with strong performances in domestic cricket. — PTI

Indian squads for Bangladesh series

T20I: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Krunal Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal, Rahul Chahar, Deepak Chahar, Khaleel Ahmed, Shivam Dube, Shardul Thakur 

Test: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant 

I love power-hitting: Dube

Mumbai: Mumbai all-rounder Shivam Dube today said he loves power-hitting and would never give up his aggressive brand of cricket, which earned him his maiden call-up to the Indian team. The 26-year-old made into the Indian T20 squad as all-rounder Hardik Pandya is yet to recover from a back surgery. Dube pipped Vijay Shankar as the second choice all-rounder, primarily based on his big-hitting prowess. “I have a bit of natural power and I work on that,” Dube said. “My father always wanted to make me an aggressive batsman and that became my lifestyle. I love power-hitting. I would like to thank God and my dad. Specially my dad, who always supported me and it was his dream (that I play for India).” This seaosn, Dube has scored 1,012 runs in 16 First-Class matches so far. “It is a good feeling. I was expecting a call. I was sure of my selection. I felt that my performance was good,” said Dube. PTI

Bangladesh players call off strike

Dhaka: The Bangladesh cricketers, led by star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, have called off their strike over pay and benefits after getting assurance from the country’s board that all their demands will be met, putting their tour of India back on track. The deadlock between the players and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) ended after a two-hour long meeting which went on close to midnight yesterday. The truce means that the team’s T20 and Test tour of India, beginning November 3, will go on as per schedule and the players will join the preparatory camp tomorrow. Shakib attended the meeting alongside other senior players including Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah and Tamim Iqbal. The players added two more demands to the 11 made on Monday, asking for a percentage of BCB revenues and equal pay for women cricketers. BCB president Hassan did not commit anything on the two latest demands but said the original 11 will be fulfilled. Players had also demanded fresh elections in the players’ body and BCB agreed to that. 

Saifuddin ruled out of T20 series

Bangladesh all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin has been ruled out of the T20 series against India owing to a back injury. PTI

If you have a very safe and easy career there are very less things you will learn. I have learnt a lot in the last four to five years. If you have failed a lot of times then you know how to rise up and how to succeed. I have failed a lot of times in my life so I know how to stand up and perform. That has been a blessing — Sanju Samson

We’re looking at younger options after the World Cup, so you can understand our thought process. We definitely had a chat with Dhoni and he also endorses our view of backing youngsters. 

Going into domestic cricket, getting his touch back or thoughts about retirement, everything is purely his (Dhoni’s) personal decision. We’ve already laid the roadmap for future, I’m sure you can see in the way we are selecting the teams. — MSK Prasad, chief selector