India spin legend Harbhajan Singh has called for the Indian team management to give rest to seniors like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja for the upcoming T20I series against West Indies on the Caribbean tour.
He urged the BCCI selectors to go with proven IPL performers like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, and others for the five T20I matches.
Several former cricketers have called for the phasing out of seniors to make space for younger players right away keeping in mind the upcoming challenges ahead. And Harbhajan has said that a young side should be picked for the T20Is.
Harbhajan Singh shared his 15-member squad in which Suryakumar Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal are the only two players in their 30s.
“There are five T20Is. Send a young team. Hardik Pandya should be their captain and it should be selected keeping the future in mind. This team can beat anyone. If they are encouraged under the captaincy of Hardik Pandya, these boys are going to show their leave their impact across the world and guide India to several wins in the future. These boys will learn a lot on the West Indies tour," Harbhajan said in a video on YouTube.
Harbhajan says the players he has shortlisted for the five T20Is are capable of winning Indian team matches in the future and that they will learn a lot against West Indies.
“Give the senior players some rest, they have played plenty of cricket. This tournament should be used to test everyone. He’s (Jaiswal) a complete player and ready for international cricket. Should be part of the West Indies tour,” Harbhajan added.
Harbhajan’s Indian Team for West Indies T20Is:
Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad (third opener), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya (captain), Tilak Varma, Akshar Patel, Jitesh Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Akash Madhwal
(News18 inputs)
