Indian cricket team's bench strength will be tested when the Manoj Tiwary-led India A take on West Indies in first of the two warm-up one dayers, which will mark the beginning of Caribbean team's one and half month long tour
Indian cricket team's bench strength will be tested when the Manoj Tiwary-led India A take on West Indies in first of the two warm-up one dayers, which will mark the beginning of Caribbean team's one and half month long tour.
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With the Indian ODI team for the first three matches set to be announced on Saturday, it will be a chance for the likes of Tiwary, Kedar Jadhav to grab one slot of reserve batsman that's available in absence of Rohit Sharma, who is still recuperating from a fractured finger and shoulder injury.
Manoj Tiwary. Pic/ Suresh K.K.
Both Tiwary and Jadhav had a good tour for India A in Australia couple of months back and they will be itching to show their good form.
Tiwary, in particular has had good time whenever he has played against the touring teams having scored 93 against England in a one-day game and a century against Australia in day game for India A.
Jadhav, a hard-hitting middle-order batsman can be a good back-up option with World Cup only a few months away. Not to forget Murali Vijay, who gets another chance to redeem his limited overs career.
With Shikhar Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane set to open against West Indies after their success in England but a good performance from Vijay in the two warm-up games will put pressure -- especially on Dhawan. There are youngsters like Sanju Samson and Unmukt Chand who would also like to showcase their talent on a big stage.
Samson would like to seal the spot of second wicketkeeper for the limited overs tour of Australia and subsequently the 2015 World Cup.
Stuart Binny and Parveez Rasool will like to again get a look in the limited overs side. With Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni in need of a bowling all-rounder, the five selectors under Sandeep Patil's chairmanship will be keenly following the burly Karnataka all-rounder's performance.
West Indies team will miss the services of Dwayne Smith, Dwayne Bravo and Sunil Narine --- all of whom are busy playing Champions League Twenty20.