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Selectors’ conundrum as they declare ICC World Twenty20 squad tomorrow – Ajinkya Rahane or Manish Pandey

Selectors’ conundrum as they declare ICC World Twenty20 squad tomorrow – Ajinkya Rahane or Manish Pandey

Selectors' conundrum as they declare ICC World Twenty20 squad tomorrow - Ajinkya Rahane or Manish Pandey

Dhoni said there could just be slight change in the squad of 15, following the ending of the T20 series, the final team is all set to go

New Delhi: The clean sweep in the T20 series against Australia has reduced their predicaments, but selectors will debate whether new discover Manish Pandey is better-suited than Ajinkya Rahane for the number seven spot when they name the Indian squads for the World T20 as well as the Asia Cup, here tomorrow.

There’s only one selection puzzle — that of the seventh specialist batsman while the majority of the players select themselves after the victory show Down Under.

India’s No 1 batsman Virat Kohli has been rested for the forthcoming home series against Sri Lanka with advice Manish Pandey getting a look-in against Sri Lanka.

But when Kohli rejoins the squad for the Asia Cup in Bangladesh, at least, one among the 15 chosen for Lanka series can get the ax from the big ticket event which will follow in March-.

It’ll be unjust to lose Pandey without having a look at him during the Lanka series that begins February 9 in Pune tomorrow since the team for World T20 is being picked.

The limelight will be on Rahane with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni being automatic selections.

While there isn’t any uncertainty about Rahane’s class, none other Dhoni has challenged his capability to maneuver the singles and doubles in shorter formats.

He did not find in the playing XI for the three T20 Internationals in Australia, which is an indicator that he’s not in the bigger scheme of things of team management.

Additionally, the 15 wickets he took in his slow during the 2011 World Cup -left arm twist may also be considered.

There could just be slight changes in the squad of 15, following the ending of the T20 series, the heart of the team is established as Dhoni said.

The single player, who could come into the mixture is Irfan Pathan, who had a great Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament, leading Baroda to the finals.

But, he has not been contained by the selectors for the Sri Lanka show so there remains a question whether they’d take him in the Asia Cup and World T20 squads with Hardik Pandya impressing the senior lads in the team.

Pawan Negi is a cover for Ravindra Jadeja given that the bat of Axar Patel is not up to the mark. On the other hand, Negi, the pint-sized Delhi-lad, can hit at sixes that were long at 9 or No 8.

Likewise, if the Tamil Nadu tweaker neglects Harbhajan Singh is being viewed as the cover of Ashwin and will just get a chance.