India’s journey to WC starts with knock in neighbourhood

The Indian cricket team will get an opportunity to test its bench strength when its fringe players led by Suresh Raina square off against minnows Bangladesh in a short three-match ODI series starting in Mirpur on Sunday.

The Indian cricket team will get an opportunity to test its bench strength when its fringe players led by Suresh Raina square off against minnows Bangladesh in a short three-match ODI series starting in Mirpur on Sunday.

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The decision by the BCCI to rest seven key players including skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, his deputy Virat Kohli and premier batsman Rohit Sharma provides the likes of Robin Uthappa, Manoj Tiwary, Parveez Rasool and Akshar Patel a chance to showcase their skills against a Bangladesh side led by the gutsy Mushfiqur Rahim.

However, the absence of Dhoni and Co has definitely taken the much-needed sheen off the series which has also coincided with the football World Cup making it even more inconsequential from a viewer’s perspective.

Fresh season
This is the official start of the new international season as far as India is concerned and the players would like to hit the straps straightaway coming from a two-week break after a hectic IPL assignment.

The stakes will, however, be high for the Indian reserves, most of whom would see this opportunity as a God-send one.

With barely eight months left for the 50-over World Cup, a few places are still up for grabs which will keep some of the members of this team interested.