Gambhir likely to be recalled for Zimbabwe tour

MS Dhoni, who offended his right hamstring during India's tri-series opener in the West Indies, is likely to be feint out for India's short tour to Zimbabwe that begins July 24. If Dhoni is certainly out of stock, Gautam Gambhir is likely to get a call to mind into the team.

While announcing India's team for the Champions Trophy on May 4, the national selectors had also named 21 probables for the continuing tri-series in the West Indies. Besides the 15 who featured in India's triumphant Champions Trophy campaign, the probable’s included Ambati Rayudu, Manoj Tiwary, Praveen Kumar, Shami Ahmed, Rahul Sharma and Gambhir.

Shami replaced Irfan Pathan later than the latter injured him at the same time as training for the West Indies tri-series. Rayudu came in for Dhoni after Dhoni was feint out of the tri-series on July 1.

With Tiwary, the solitary other consultant batsman in the list, having warped his left knee, Gambhir leftovers the only feasible candidate to lend hardness to what has become an inexperienced India batting line-up. With his skill, Gambhir could also come in handy as a member of the direction group, thus serving Virat Kohli, who is place to be retained as captain in the occasion of Dhoni's unavailability.

It will be motivating to see if the selectors go for to rest a few hackneyed players. Discussions approximately require for rest could center on R Ashwin, Suresh Raina, Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav. If Ashwin is certainly rested, Jammu & Kashmir offspinner Parvez Rasool could come in argument along with Rahul Sharma, who is named in the probable.

With the selectors' eyes put on the travel around to South Africa afterward this year, it is probable that Praveen Kumar, who was in the probable, may be specified another possibility. If the selectors think the requirement to bring in either Cheteshwar Pujara or Ajinkya Rahane for the Zimbabwe ODIs ahead of the India's A tour to South Africa, Murali Vijay could be a sufferer.

However, with the India A tour to South Africa put to begin instantaneously later than the Zimbabwe series' conclusion, it is improbable that the selectors will attempt out too numerous youngsters. With the present group having fared well throughout the Champions Trophy, it is probable that some of the batsmen, who haven't got sufficient opportunities, may be asked to join the A team in South Africa.

Amol Karhadkar is a correspondent at ESPNcricinfo