• Home
• /
• Sports
• /
• Cricket

Ravindra Jadeja set for comeback

New Delhi - Shami, Ishant and Vijay in fray for Australia ODI series

Back in form with an impressive performance against South Africa in the recently-concluded Test series, Ravindra Jadeja is likely to make a comeback when the national selectors meet on Saturday to pick the Indian squad for the upcoming limited-overs series in Australia.
India will play five ODIs and three T20 internationals in Australia with the first game starting on January 12.
Three other players who could be under spotlight are fit-again pacer Mohammed Shami, senior-most pacer Ishant Sharma and veteran batsman Murali Vijay, who has started batting in the middle-order in one-dayers for Tamil Nadu. Vijay also could be a back-up opener for an out of form Shikhar Dhawan.
The selectors will pick the squad, to be captained by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, keeping the ICC World T20 in mind although at least 12 players are likely to be automatic picks in both the formats.
With 23 wickets in his comeback Test series against the Proteas along with crucial runs (109 runs), the 27-year-old Jadeja should be back in the ODI squad after six months. He is likely to beat Axar Patel for the second spinner's slot with Ravichandran Ashwin being an automatic choice.
Ishant Sharma, who has had a good season as the strike bowler in Test matches, is likely to get the nod in limited overs after a gap of nearly one year. Ishant was in the contention for the limited-overs series against South Africa but he pulled a hamstring during a Ranji match and was rested keeping in mind the Test series.
The other highlight of the selection meeting in the capital could be the selectors' take on whether to include Mohammed Shami in the squad. Shami, who had undergone knee surgery after the World Cup, has just made his comeback to competitive cricket in the Vijay Hazare trophy.
He had played two matches with figures of 2/52 in 10 overs against UP and 1/40 in 8 overs against Madhya Pradesh.
Shami's fitness will be the main issue for the selectors when they meet to pick the team. They are not worried about his form as the fast bowler is considered to be an asset by both the team management and the selectors.