New Delhi | Jagran Sports Desk: Former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is unlikely to be a selected for India’s three-match T20 series to be played at home against South Africa starting from September 15 in Dharamsala and the remaining two games will be played at Mohali (September 18) and Bengaluru (September 22). The team for the series is expected to be picked on September 4.
It is expected that the selectors will retain the same squad that blanked the West Indies 3-0 and the selection committee wants to continue building towards World T20 to be played in Australia in October 2020.
"There are only 22 T20 Internationals before India play their first World T20 game and selectors are clear in their vision that it's time to move forward," a senior BCCI official privy to developments in selection committee told PTI on Wednesday.
"They are planning on getting a pool of three keepers ready for limited overs, especially T20s," he added.
However, it is still not clear whether an BCCI official or the selection committee will speak to Dhoni to enquire about his plans like they did before the West Indies tour when the former captain informed that he would be taking a break to serve his regiment in Territorial Army.
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"Retirement is an individual decision and selectors or for that matter, no one has any right to decide on that front. But they have every right to decide the roadmap for the 2020 World T20 and that's to give Rishabh Pant maximum chances," the official explained.
On the other hand, Chief Selector MSK Prasad had recently supported Dhoni, calling him India's best finisher in limited overs format but had also backed Pant to succeed.
"I can clearly say this that till today MS is the best glovemen and finisher in India in the shorter formats. The others are still work in progress. MS was a big strength to this team in the World Cup both as a batsman and keeper, apart from sharing his vast experience with the team and captain while taking on-field decisions.
I have very clearly told post the selection of the Indian team against West Indies, that we have a plan post World Cup to give as many opportunities as possible to Rishabh and groom him so that he can grow in confidence and perform as per the requirements of the team," Prasad had said.