Harbhajan Singh said he did not see any place for either Rishabh Pant or Dinesh Karthik in India's 15-man squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup. The selectors will name the team in Mumbai on Monday.
2019 World Cup; Harbhajan Singh said MS Dhoni has learnt the art of managing his injuries quite well (AP Photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Harbhajan Singh has suggested KL Rahul can keep wickets if MS Dhoni suffers injury at the World Cup
- India are set to announce their 15-man World Cup squad on Monday, April 15
- Harbhajan has pointed out that Saini has been impressive in the domestic circuit apart from IPL 2019
Rishabh Pant or Dinesh Karthik as back-up for MS Dhoni for the 2019 Cricket World Cup? This decision is likely to weigh heavily on the Indian selectors' minds when they meet with Virat Kohli to pick the World Cup squad but Harbhajan Singh reckons neither Pant nor Karthik has a place in the squad of 15.
The Indian selection committee will meet on Monday to name the 15-man squad for the World Cup and Rishabh Pant is likely to win a berth but Harbhajan Singh said India should instead look at extra bowling options.
Harbhajan, who is currently playing the 2019 Indian Premier League for Chennai Super Kings with MS Dhoni, said a back-up for Dhoni would be a waste of resources.
"It's not that Dhoni does not have niggles. Playing cricket with him I know he has some back issues but with his experience, he knows how to play with all that," Harbhajan told India Today.
"I don't think you need any backup for Dhoni unless he suffers from any major injury during the World Cup. In case of any minor niggle, you do have KL Rahul in the squad who can keep," Harbhajan said.
"I know there is talk about Rishab Pant's X factor but it appears the team management is convinced with Vijay Shankar to start as no.4. You could have gone with Ambati Rayudu but he has perhaps lost form recently which peg him back. KL Rahul would be my back-up batsman in the squad,".
This will be a long World Cup and the format of the tournament will be demanding especially after the Indian Premier League where all of India's top stars are currently involved.
KL Rahul is almost a certainty and Harbhajan Singh said he could don the wicketkeeping gloves in case MS Dhoni had to sit out with an injury. Dhoni has complained of a back spasm and conceded his back was a little tight after CSK's victory over Kolkata Knight Riders.
Harbhajan backs Navdeep Saini for World Cup squad
Navdeep Saini has impressed with his pace in IPL 2019 ( Courtesy by BCCI)
Instead, Harbhajan said India would do well to look at Ravindra Jadeja as back-up to Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav and Navdeep Saini who has impressed not only on the placid Bengaluru pitches in the IPL but has also done well in domestic cricket.
"Jadeja is perhaps the best fielder in the side. He can also bat and I would want a back up spinner for Chahal and Kuldeep, if one of them were to suffer an unfortunate injury for a week or two. You need a fourth specialist seamer in England too and Navdeep Saini would be my pick.
"Not just because he has bowled well in IPL which in itself is creditable in Bangalore's batting friendly wickets but also because he has won Ranji matches in the past, so he comes with domestic experience," he said.
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