A new-look Indian team will look to test their bench strength when they face Zimbabwe in the opening match of the triangular ODI series, also involving Sri Lanka, here on Friday.
With top players rested for the series, the tournament comes as an opportunity for the youngsters to prove their worth at the international level, especially with the 50-over World Cup just over nine months away.
It will also serve as a test of character for the young Suresh Raina, who will make his captaincy debut after as many as eight senior players including regular captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, were rested for the tournament.
A bunch of fresh and fit players, eager to stake a claim for a regular berth in side might work in Raina’s favour against minnows Zimbabwe and equally under-stength Sri Lanka.
The UP southpaw has an aggressive deputy in Virat Kohli, who would be keen to make a mark after being ignored for the World Twenty20 Championships in the West Indies.
Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha and leg-spinner Amit Mishra also have a similar agenda after the T20 snub while Yusuf Pathan, Rohit Sharma and Dinesh Karthik along with Raina will form the core of the Indian line-up during the series.
Other rookies who will be looking to make a mark are Tamil Nadu off-spinner R. Ashwin and aggressive wicket-keeper batsman Naman Ojha.
However, an area which will be a matter of concern for Raina is the pace department. With the likes of Ashok Dinda, R. Vinay Kumar, Pankaj Singh and Umesh Yadav, the Indian seam attack lacks experience and it remains to be seen how the quartet fairs under pressure situations.
Incidentally, the Raina-led side has a fair idea about Zimbabwean conditions as players like Pankaj Singh, Ojha and Rohit Sharma were part of the ‘A’ team that toured the African country in 2007. India last sent a full side to Zimbabwe way back in 2005-06.
On the other hand, the absence of so many international stars has irked the cash-strapped Zimbabwe cricket which was banking on this series to revive the game here. With very little international cricket scheduled here, the tri-series is also seen as Zimbabwe’s last chance to test their abilities before the next year’s World Cup.
After hosting Sri Lanka in 2008, Zimbabwe have played minnows like Kenya, Bangladesh and Afghanistan at home and the successful hosting of this series will portray a positive image of the game here.
From the tournament point of view, Sri Lanka have also fielded a young team and have rested several key players, prominent among them were regular skipper Kumar Sangakkara and the in-form Mahela Jayawardene.
Like India, the series also provides Lankans the opportunity to test their resources and allow a few youngsters the to gain some international experience.
— PTI