Shikhar Dhawan Aims for Confident Return from Injury in Bangladesh A Clash

Shikhar Dhawan will have a chance to prove his fitness while an out-of-favour Ravindra Jadeja will hope to keep the national selectors interested as India A take on Bangladesh A in a three-day match in Bangalore with the big series against South Africa starting in less than week's time. (Shikhar Dhawan Says He's Become a Better Batsman)

     

Dhawan, who was in blazing form hitting back-to-back Test hundreds against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, fractured his hand during the Galle Test match and was forced to sit out from the remainder of the series. (Ravindra Jadeja's Poor Year Gets Worse)

     

Having steadily recuperated from injury and going through the paces at the National Cricket Academy, the match against Bangladesh A gives Dhawan, an ideal opportunity to show his leadership credentials.

     

More than a big score, the emphasis for Dhawan will be about spending time out in the middle and also to check whether he has recovered from the injury.

     

Facing the likes of Rubel Hossain, Al-Amin Hossain would also prepare him nicely as he gets ready to face South Africa in Dharamsala in the opening T20 International on October 2.

     

For Ravindra Jadeja, once an indispensable part of Mahendra Singh Dhoni's ODI set-up, it will be a big test as he has now been dumped by selectors across all formats.

     

That he has not been picked for either of T20s and first three ODIs speaks volumes about the fact that selectors have sent him a stern message that he needs to improve his game before being considered for senior team selection all over again.

     

While in longer version, he is far from being a certainty, this three-day game is a chance for him to impress Sandeep Patil and company. A good show here and a poor show from Axar Patel might just turn the tables for the Saurashtra cricketer.

     

Two other players, who would be keen to perform are Varun Aaron and Naman Ojha. While Varun has been a part of the Test squad with skipper Virat Kohli's accent on pace, the Jharkhand speedster has done precious little apart from bowling quick.

     

Wickets have been few and far in between and a good show against Bangladesh A can keep him in the hunt for a place on flat tracks where the team management at times might not even go for specialist double-pace attack.

     

Naman, looked the part during both the innings that he played at the SSC against Sri lanka but his poor shot selection cost him twice. While Wriddhiman Saha is still some distance ahead, a big hundred in the upcoming match would certainly put pressure on the Bengal stumper.