Since Sachin Tendulkar looked rusty in the recently concluded New Zealand series and was bowled thrice in a row, the Irani Cup tie scheduled between September 21 and 25 could be an opportunity for the batsman to get back into the groove, says a report in Hindustan Times, adding that with the selection committee scheduled to meet here on Monday to pick the Rest of India team, all eyes are on Tendulkar, whether he will make himself available.
“However, what will make the job tougher for the selectors will be the shortage of options as most leading players will be involved in the upcoming World Twenty20 and the India 'A' tour of New Zealand. The World Twenty20 kicks off in Sri Lanka on September 18 while India 'A' tour New Zealand in September-October. The new venue for the Irani Cup though is yet to be decided by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) after the Sawai Mansingh Stadium at Jaipur, the original venue, was deemed unplayable,” says the report.
Former India coach Anshuman Gaekwad believes Tendulkar should not play in the Irani Cup as it won't help him as much as it would any youngster. "There is nothing immediate for Tendulkar at the moment. He should take rest as a series of international assignments are lined up for him in the months to come (The four-Test home series against England starts on November 15)."
Meanwhile The Indian Express reports that as debates about whether Sachin Tendulkar’s age has finally caught up with him continue to rage on, the national selectors are planning to include the 39-year-old in the Rest of India (ROI) squad for the upcoming Irani Cup.
With the Indian team set to be away for the World T20 starting mid-September, there is no cricket lined up for Tendulkar. And the Kris Srikkanth-led national selection committee — whose term comes to an end this month — are said to have a word with the Mumbai veteran before announcing the ROI squad on Monday.
“We feel it will be best for him to gain some confidence before he gets ready for England. His experience promises to be crucial for the Indian team over the next 12 months. We are certain that Sachin will be back to his best soon,” a selector said on condition of anonymity.
“Tendulkar will be part of the Champions League starting next month in South Africa. But we feel that domestic cricket is the best place to gain form. We will also ask him whether he will be interested to play Challengers,” the selector added.
According to a report in The Times Of India, a handful of stars from India's U-19 World Cup winning squad are set to be rewarded with berths in the Rest of India squad for the Irani Trophy when the national selectors meet in Mumbai on Monday. “Rest of India will take on Ranji Trophy champions Rajasthan in the five-day showpiece match that headlines the domestic cricket calendar. The BCCI is yet to name an alternate venue for the Irani Trophy after chief curator Venkat Sundaram deemed the pitch and ground conditions at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium - Rajasthan's home ground - unfit to host the match to be played from Sept 21 to 25,” says the report.
“In the absence of Team India's limited-overs specialists, who will be playing in the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka and the India 'A' players who will be touring New Zealand, the selectors plan to have a good look at the youngsters in the heat of first-class cricket,” says the report, adding that at least four U-19 stars - left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh, pacer Sandeep Sharma, wicketkeeper-batsman Smit Patel and allrounder Baba Aparajith - are likely to figure in the ROI squad.
Bengal pacer Ravikant Singh will also figure prominently in the deliberations. Under-19 skipper Unmukt Chand has already been picked for India A's tour of Kiwiland.
