Srikkanth to play with the squad if India win 2nd Test – Cricket News Update
Team India’s Chief Selector, Srikkanth, has revealed that the management will look to make some constructive changes in the playing XI, keeping in view the upcoming Australia tour, provided the home side wins the 2nd Test match against West Indies.
With 1-0 lead in the 3-match series, the Indians are set to take on the Windies on November 14 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
As the Men in Blue are scheduled to pay a long visit to Australia later this year, the national selectors want to pick a solid, strong and fit squad which may cope with the challenges there. Both the Indian players and administrators consider the series
to be greatly significant for their resurgence in International Test rankings.
Srikkanth is of the view that the selectors are keen to try all available options and make new experiments in the ongoing home series in a bid to choose a calculated squad.
Talking to the media today, the head selector said, “We’re hoping we can take an unassailable 2-0 lead at the Eden Gardens. That will allow us to start preparing for the Australia tour early.”
He further told, “It’s not that we would be axing anyone. But a win in the second Test might help us try some different ideas. Australia is very much on our radar and we want to send a squad with all players fully prepared.”
On a question of Harbhajan Singh’s comeback, Srikkanth explained, “It is not that Harbhajan is not in our scheme of things. Players get dropped and they come back. For any player, it’s mandatory to perform in domestic cricket to be considered for the Indian
team.”
Bhajji, who pulled out of the npower Test series for his abdominal injury, was brushed aside by the selectors in the last home event against England. He is again not a part of the current series. Moreover, the tremendous Test debut of Ravichandran Ashwin
has cast doubts on Singh’s early comeback.
The Blue Shirts are undergoing hard preparations for the 2nd Test, which they will probably play with the unchanged squad. Five ODI games are also on the cards after the completion of the Tests.