With 2023 World Cup in mind, Rahul Tripathi likely to be handed his ODI debut against Zimbabwe: Report

Shikhar Dhawan-led Team India will leave for Zimbabwe in the next few days and will square off against the hosts in 3 ODIs. The matches are scheduled to be played on August 18, 20 and 22. With the first-choice players named in the squad for Asia Cup, India will have their second-string squad at the helm and the first-choice players will leave for the T20 tournament.

The absence of regulars could see Rahul Tripathi making his debut against Zimbabwe. As per a report in Insidesport, the team needs a dynamic batsman like Rahul, who keeps the scoreboard ticking. Team India has embraced a new approach in the ongoing season and keeping that in mind, Rahul could get his chance.

Once a full-time opener, Rahul had to take the middle-order role in IPL in the past few seasons and he has now excelled on that front as well. “We need a dynamic batsman in ODIs. The World Cup is more than a year away but we have to work on the bench strength as well. Rahul Tripathi is one such player who keeps the scorecard ticking. We want to have all bases cover and you could seem him play in Zimbabwe,” a member of the selection committee was quoted as saying by Insidesport.

Tripathi earned his maiden India call-up for the Ireland tour after a superb run in IPL 2022, where he scored 413 runs while striking at 158.24. He is still uncapped but can get his opportunity in the absence of seniors.

With Shubman Gill and Dhawan set to kick off the proceedings again, Tripathi might get his opportunity in the middle-order. Apart from Tripathi, all eyes will also be on the likes of Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Kuldeep Yadav and Deepak Hooda among others. Hooda is a member of the Asia Cup squad as well.