Some of the choices made by the Indian selectors on Monday were perplexing. The squad for Zimbabwe has many youngsters, who have done well in the IPL, but Dhoni does not seem to have been assessed on merit. The selectors also did not pick a youngster to lead the side.

The Dhoni-led side will play three one-day matches and two T20s in Zimbabwe.  All the players like KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Axar Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal, have been rewarded for their excellent show in the IPL.

Speaking on the issue, Chief selector Sandeep Patil said, “Dhoni has already retired from Tests and was very keen on being part of the side going to Zimbabwe. We also felt that the youngsters should get a chance to play under someone experienced like Dhoni.”

Also read: Dhoni should be given choice: Azharuddin

In the IPL, Dhoni had a poor run, with his only innings of 64 not out, coming in the last league game, well after the elimination of the Rising Pune Supergiants.

Dhoni in the World T20, has scored 89 runs in 5 games, and was a pale shadow of the formidable finisher of old. He in the last ODI series India played, against Australia, scored 86 runs from 5 games, thus making an average 17.20.

Despite his comeback in the World T20, Yuvraj Singh was ignored, raising questions whether it is the end of the road for the all-rounder. “We are no one to say if it is the end of the road for anyone. He can still perform and win his place back,” Patil said.

After facing an ankle injury in the World T20, Yuvraj Singh has also been average for Sunrisers Hyderabad, thus awaiting for a notable success since his comeback.

Admitting that, they did not watch any IPL game from the stands, the Chief selector further said, “The problem with watching in the stadium is we cannot watch action replays. When we watch on TV, we get a better chance to assess the calibre of a youngster. It’s not that we are against the IPL, it is just that we prefer watching it on TV.”

By Phani Ch