India’s ODI squad for West Indies tour: MSK Prasad clarifies reason behind MS Dhoni’s ouster

India’s ODI squad for West Indies tour: The Indian chief selector opened up on the senior wicket-keeper’s exit from the ODI squad.

The Indian selectors have announced as many as five changes to the ODI squad for the upcoming tour of West Indies. Opening batsman Mayank Agarwal, wicket-keeper batsmen Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Dinesh Karthik, all-rounder Hardik Pandya and fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah have missed out on selection for the ODI series.

While Agarwal has been dropped without being given a chance, Karthik seems to be hard done by for being dropped for the umpteenth time in his career.

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With regular opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan recovering from an injury which he suffered during the recently concluded ICC Cricket World Cup, there was no other option than dropping Agarwal. Among the others who have been recalled are batsmen Shreyas Iyer and Manish Pandey and fast bowlers in Khaleel Ahmed and Navdeep Saini (maiden call-up).

Other than Dhawan, all the above mentioned four players have done exceedingly well in the Indian domestic circuit and for India A lately and have been rewarded for their consistency.

India’s ODI squad for West Indies tour

MSK Prasad clarifies reason behind MS Dhoni’s ouster

As far as the veteran cricketer is concerned, India chief selector MSK Prasad cited reasons for his ouster from the ODI squad despite being among the runs of late. Speaking during the press conference after the selection meeting, Prasad unveiled that Dhoni had expressed his unavailability.

“MS Dhoni is unavailable. He expressed his unavailability. Post the World Cup we have a road map. For now, it is to give Rishabh Pant opportunities. We did discuss it with Dhoni,” Prasad was quoted as saying.