NEW DELHI: Mahendra Singh Dhoni was today brought back to India’s T20 squad to ensure he gets “enough game-time” before the ODI World Cup but the young Rishabh Pant was axed from the 50-over side for the upcoming series against Australia and New Zealand.
While Dhoni’s inclusion in the shortest format came as a surprise after he was dropped for the Australia leg just last month, Pant’s omission is an indication that he is currently not in the team management’s 2019 World Cup radar as a first XI player.
The convenor of selection committee, Amitabh Chaudhary, refused to comment on the matter but a source privy to the development justified the 37-year-old Dhoni’s selection.
“Since there are only eight ODIs (three against Australia and five against New Zealand), selectors want to give MS as much game time as possible (before the World Cup). Three T20Is means 11 international matches through the next one month,” a BCCI official said on conditions of anonymity.
Pant, on the other hand, will come back to play five ODIs against England Lions in India from January 23.
The 15-member squad for the twin ODI series against Australia (starting January 12) and New Zealand (starting January 23) is pretty much the core team for the World Cup in England that starts May 30. (AGENCIES)
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