MUMBAI: After a forgettable three months in international cricket, his runs having dried up and India losing two Test series in a row under his watch, skipper Rohit Sharma would be eagerly awaiting a return to coloured clothing; that too ODI cricket, his most favoured format. "It's a different format, a different ball game," a BCCI official set the tone ahead of the selection committee meeting on Saturday when India's provisional squad for next month's ICC Champions Trophy as well as the three home ODIs against England starting February 6, which will serve as a dress rehearsal, will be picked.
Rohit, 37, is set to remain skipper. The squad for five T20Is against England starting on January 22 will also be picked.
ODIs are now played sparsely. That would force the selectors to refer to their notes from the recent past. India have played only six ODIs after the 2023 World Cup, in which Rohit's men captured the imagination of the nation before finishing runners-up. The leading men have featured only in one three-match series, in Sri Lanka last August, with a second-string side sent for the other series in South Africa. Like he did in the World Cup, Rohit dominated with the bat in Sri Lanka by taking on the new ball bowlers and dominating the Powerplay.
However, India lost the series, which was the first for Gautam Gambhir as head coach, and the selectors may want to be more forceful with their views given the team's recent failures under Rohit-Gambhir. Recent form in other formats may also have some influence in the selections.
One positive is opener Yashasvi Jaiswal. Yet to play an ODI scene and having played his last List A match more than two years ago, there is a feeling the left-hander has done everything to become an all-format force and he should not be kept waiting. It would be easy to link Jaiswal up with Rohit at the top, but Shubman Gill's ODI numbers are astonishingly good - 2,328 runs (avg 58.20, S/R 101.74).
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