For the third time in four years, the Indian team will begin its new season with a tour of Zimbabwe, arguably the weakest of the 10 Test teams. As a result, the youngsters — in terms of international experience and not age — find themselves in a tricky situation.
For, even if they succeed, their performances may go unnoticed. Take for example, Kedar Jadhav’s case. In the last of the three ODIs in Zimbabwe in July 2014, Jadhav scored an unbeaten 87-ball 105 but didn’t figure in the selectors’ scheme of things thereafter.
On the other hand, if a player comes up with a mediocre show, he draws flak for not doing well even against a weak team.
In the 16-member contingent, which will leave for Zimbabwe in the wee hours of Wednesday to play three ODIs and as many T20s, barring Dhoni, none of the squad members has cemented his place in the limited-overs side. And it will be interesting to see the players’ approach.
K.L. Rahul and Dhawal Kulkarni played it safe when asked about the tour. “If you have done well, it doesn’t matter if you score runs against Zimbabwe or any other team. It’s a big challenge for all of us. We would take a hundred, or a five-wicket haul, or a good performance against any team,” said Rahul, the reserve Test opener who is expected to make his ODI and T20 debuts.
“It’s a big opportunity for all of us to go out there and continue to perform the way we have over the past couple of years,” he added.
Staying in the presentKulkarni has been in and out of the squad for the last two years. But he preferred to stay in the present rather than think about whether his performances will go unnoticed. “You have to keep your mind clear. You cannot underestimate any opposition. You have to just go out there and perform, and leave the rest to God,” he said.
The five uncapped players in the squad — Faiz Fazal, Mandeep Singh, Karun Nair, Yuzvendra Chahal and Jayant Yadav — will do well to follow Kulkarni’s advice.
While Jayant was excited to be “touring with the Indian team featuring [Mahendra Singh] Dhoni,” Mandeep was looking forward to “wearing the Indian jersey for the first time.”
Most of the prospective debutants will hope to build on their IPL displays, and impress India’s most successful captain. However, they will have to remember Dhoni’s words about the importance of translating the promise shown in the IPL to the national colours, given the added pressure and responsibility.
