Prasidh Krishna (Image credit: BCCI)
NEW DELHI: The selection committee is likely to leave it as late as possible before naming the ODI and Test teams for the upcoming tour of New Zealand as they wait on the fitness status of Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana and Rishabh Pant.TOI understands that Krishna has been given a three-week timeline when he reported to the Centre of Excellence (CoE) after he walked out of the second ODI against West Indies in Guwahati on Sept 30. Seam-bowling allrounder Rana, who has been at the CoE since July, is expected to undergo a return-to-play match simulation on June 25 before the ODI and Test squads are expected to fly out on Oct 28 with the ODI series scheduled to start on Nov 4.
BCCI, on Monday, announced that Pant will not be available for the first two India ‘A’ four-day matches starting on Oct 24 due to a side strain he picked up in the Irani Cup match. It is learnt that the CoE has adopted a cautious approach in clearing players after rehab.Sources told TOI that the Indian team management had pulled out Krishna after bowling five overs in Guwahati as a precautionary measure after he complained of some discomfort in his left hamstring.
“With both Pant and Krishna, the injuries don’t look severe at the outset. But the CoE doesn’t want to take any chances. That’s why both of them were given threeweek timelines when they reported to CoE,” a BCCI source told TOI.“The selectors and team management are keen to have Rana in both formats, and he is seen as a perfect fit as the seam-bowling allrounder batting at No. 8,” the source added.
Krishna is seen as a primary member of the pacebowling attack in both Tests and ODIs while Pant will form the batting mainstay during the two-Test series starting on Nov 19.
Pant had asked for game time with the India ‘A’ team to find rhythm before the Tests.The Test team is expected to play a warm-up match before the first Test after the third India ‘A’ four-day match finishes on Nov 10.
Bhuvi training at CoE
It has also emerged that Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who has been picked for the T20Is after four years, is undergoing training at the CoE. Over the last three years, the 36-yearold had designed his calendar to prepare for the IPL. He has only been playing T20s in domestic cricket. The camp at CoE is intended to get back in shape for the rigours international cricket.