The repercussion of India's disastrous showing in the World Twenty20 was clearly visible in the team selection for the four-match ODI series in the West Indies. However, there are more questions than answers if you go through the 16-man squad, named by the Indian selectors on Wednesday.
As many as five changes were made to India's ODI squad from the one that won the series in New Zealand 3-1 in January this year. RP Singh, S Badrinath and Ashish Nehra made their comebacks to the national squad, while Abhishek Nayar and Murali Vijay received their maiden call-ups.
Suresh Raina was ruled out of the tour after he sustained a hairline fracture on his thumb during the World Twen20 match against South Africa on Tuesday. He has been advised two weeks rest. Virender Sehwag also missed out after failing to recover from his shoulder injury.
Coach Gary Kirsten had pointed out that due to playing so many games in the Indian Premier League the team's chances in the World Twenty20 were hurt. And selectors responded to his call by resting a few senior players, while calling up a few new faces, keeping in mind the busy schedule for the team in the next few months.
Veteran Sachin Tendulkar was rested after he made a request to the Board for the same, while pacer Zaheer Khan was given a break following a hectic schedule.
The pace duo of Irfan Pathan and Munaf Patel were the only ones who were dropped on basis of their performance.
Nehra was rewarded with a berth in the squad after his consistent performances in season two of the Indian Premier League for the Delhi Daredevils after he claimed 19 wickets in 13 matches. The 30-year-old left-arm pacer last played international cricket nearly four years back, after which he suffered a spate of injuries.
RP Singh also made a successful comeback from injury and impressed during the two matches he played in the World Twenty20. Mumbai all-rounder Nayar was rewarded for his consistent performances in domestic cricket for the last few seasons and also during the second season of the IPL.
But what is interesting is the selection of Badrinath and Vijay, both of whom had a poor outing in the IPL. Vijay made 60 runs in four matches of the Twenty20 tournament in South Africa, while his Chennai Super Kings teammate Badrinath fared no much better with 177 runs in 14 games at 19.66.
Surprisingly, Virat Kohli was once again omitted. The Delhi youngster has already played five ODIs for India, scoring 159 runs at 31.80, and also impressed everyone in the IPL with 246 runs in 16 matches at 22.36.
West Indies outclassed India in the World Twenty20 Super Eights by seven wickets after the Indian batsmen came undone against the Windies pace battery. They would no doubt be keen to make the Indian batsmen suffer again in the four-match ODI series, starting in Jamaica, on June 26.
