India will be touring Zimbabwe to play 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is starting from June 11. Selectors were considerate enough to rest some of the senior and prominent players and give youngsters a chance to represent the country with 5 players expected to make their debut. However, the squad consists of many other talented youngsters for whom series will provide a golden opportunity to etch their names in the minds of the selectors for future tours. Here are 5 players to look out for during the series:
#1 Mandeep Singh
Mandeep Singh is being looked as a prominent and talented batsmen who can be a future middle order star batsman for team India. Born in Jalandhar, Punjab, Mandeep Singh represents Punjab in the domestic circuit. He has been performing brilliantly with the bat in the recent times and boasts of a staggering record.
In the 57 first class matches that he has played, he has amassed 3699 runs at an average of 43.51 which includes 10 centuries. He even has a great List A record where has scored 2176 runs from 69 matches at an average of 38.85.
He was the leading run scorer in the recently concluded Vijay Hazare trophy where he scored 394 runs from 7 matches including 2 centuries. In addition to this, Mandeep has been performing well in the IPL circuit too, thanks to his fearless batting and fierce stroke play. The Zimbabwe series is a wonderful opportunity for the youngster to make his mark in international Cricket.
#2 Kedar Jadhav
Kedar Jadhav is one of the underutilised cricketer for whom the series will matter the most. This can be inferred from the fact that he has been in and out of the team despite performing exceptionally well at the domestic level as well as internationally, whenever given an opportunity.
He first came to the limelight in 2015 when he scored his maiden ODI century against Zimbabwe when an ‘India-A’ team was sent for the tour. India were reeling at 82-4 and Jadhav smashed a sensational century to take his team to a respectfully 276-5 which eventually proved to be match winning.
That innings of his established him as a smart, aggressive and innovative cricketer who could help stabilize the middle order. However, since then he has been out of the team and it is now that he is being sent as the backup wicketkeeper for the upcoming series. Expectations from him will be high this time around too.
#3 KL Rahul
Not many would have been surprised to see KL Rahul's selection in the squad for the tour. Why would one be? His stellar batting display in the IPL 2016 where he scored 397 runs in 14 matches including 4 half centuries made him a top contender to be selected when the BCCI decided to give youngsters an opportunity.
Touted as a traditional Test Cricketer, many disregarded him of playing the short formats of the game. However, Rahul has silenced his critics with his bat. He is a great ‘timer’ of the Cricket ball and has a wide range of shots which helps him to adapt his game to different conditions.
His range of shots along with his temperament makes him a complete package who can prove fruitful in shorter formats of the game.
#4 Yuzvendra Chahal
The leg spinner’s selection into the side can be attributed to his breath-taking performance for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the recently concluded IPL. The second highest wicket taker of the cash-rich tournament with 21 scalps in 13 matches surely deserved a reward for his performance.
His temperament, skill and consistency were praised by everyone, especially Sunil Gavaskar, who picked him as the best young talented player of IPL 2016. He is fearless in tossing the ball up to the batsman which helps him in generating spin and deceiving the batsman.
His ability to bowl quick coupled with variations helps him in keeping the batsman in check. He will be roaring to grasp the opportunity provided to him and try to cement his place in the team. Facing stiff competition from Jayant Yadav and Axar Patel, it will be interesting to see how Dhoni utilises him. But surely, a bowler to look out for in the future!
#5 M.S. Dhoni
Dhoni deserves a spot in this list. It’s been long that his fans have been dying to see him donning that blue jersey and witness his magical batting and stroke play display. He had a rather dismal IPL season where his team didn’t even manage to qualify for the playoffs, except for a one-off match where scored 22 runs from the last over against Punjab sealing the victory for his team.
At a time when repeated questions are being raised over his captaincy, he will be leading a young and inexperienced team which itself boasts of a challenge. This can be a very good opportunity for Dhoni to silence his critics both with his captaincy and batting.
His strategies are best reflected in the ODI format. More than anybody else in the team, it will be him who will be excited to go out on the field and thrash the opposition.
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