India's ODI Series against Zimbabwe is not just about Ajinkya Rahane

For a period over the last couple of months, it seemed like India’s tour of Zimbabwe was dead in the water. BCCI’s issues with the broadcaster and Indian players fatigue after a long season of limited-overs cricket threatened to prevent this tour from happening. Zimbabwe were being given the proverbial step-child treatment.

India’s series defeat against Bangladesh, however, made this the perfect opportunity for the Indian think-tank to test their bench strength. One of the reasons for that defeat to Bangladesh was perhaps the players not turning up in body and not in mind, but rest assured, the squad that the selectors have picked for this series will be raring to go, looking to leave an impression in the selector’s books.

Harbhajan Singh:

The Turbanator is back in blue. Having made his comeback to the Test side on the back of a strong IPL, it was only natural that he would be given a chance to show the world what he’s got in the limited-over formats. Harbhajan will be playing in an ODI for the first time since 2011.

With the Indian team set to stay in the sub-continent for most of their upcoming assignments, Harbhajan has the chance to sneak his way back into the side for a while longer than just one-off Tests, especially with the axing of Ravindra Jadeja, who the selectors said was ‘dropped and not rested.’

Harbhajan will also be encouraged by Amit Mishra’s performances against Zimbabwe in 2013, where he emerged the leading wicket-taker in the five match series. Bhajji will get good purchase on the Harare pitches.

But he should also be wary of the fact that Mishra – despite grabbing his chance in the last tour – was never really in serious consideration after the series. It will be crucial for Harbhajan to not let the pressure of retaining his place in the side get to him and enjoy this second chance till it lasts.

The new-look pace attack:

“We need to make a decision if we want quick bowlers or if we want good bowlers even if they are not quick. We have been backing too many quick bowlers who haven’t been bowling well.”

These were Dhoni’s words immediately after the Bangladesh series defeat. What sounded ominous for the likes of Umesh Yadav, Varun Aaron then, has indeed proved to be so, as the speedsters have been relegated to the India A squad. On the evidence, it looks like the fast bowlers are being tested more than they are being rested.

It also means that the medium-pacers selected to have a go at Zimbabwe, have perhaps the most riding on this tour. With Mohammad Shami continuing his rehab from injury, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohit Sharma, Dhawal Kulkarni along with Stuart Binny, are definitely auditioning for a more permanent role in the side.

For Mohit, the only survivor from the World Cup pace attack that took 67 of the 70 wickets in the tournament, and Bhuvi this is a big chance to make a statement. That they can be the line-and-length bowlers that Dhoni wants in his side from here onwards.

Robin Uthappa:

Uthappa was always a shoe-in for this series once the selectors decided to give a breather for the front-line batsmen. But the intrigue about his selection is centered on the side-stepping of other fringe wicket-keepers. Wriddhiman Saha (heir to Dhoni in Tests), Dinesh Karthik, Sanju Samson, even Parthiv Patel - who had an excellent IPL - were all over-looked as Robin Uthappa made his way to the side, seemingly as first-choice ‘keeper.

Now that’s a big call from the selectors. If the selectors wanted this tour to test the bench strength, and have gone with Uthappa as their choice, it’s a clear indication that they him as a potential replacement for MS Dhoni.

And this is isn’t a Dravid-esque move to make a batsman don the big gloves to make space for another bowler or an all-rounder. Part of Uthappa’s transformation over the last two seasons is to reinvent himself as a regular wicket-keeper. He’s KKR’s first choice keeper in the IPL as he is for the all-conquering Karnataka team.

At 29, this is Uthappa’s best – and perhaps last - chance to cement his place in the side. With Dhoni set to hang around at least until the World T20, better opportunities than this will be harder to come by. And he is ready for it.

“I am not waiting for anyone to indicate it to me [that I’m the wicket-keeper>. I am just taking it up, putting my hand up and saying I am doing it,” he said .

Ajinkya Rahane:

Dropped in an ODI series and be named captain for the second one. Rahane is the man on who the spotlight will be shining at, over the next fortnight.

Let’s be honest, his captaincy won’t come under too much scrutiny during this series. There are just far too many ’leaders’ ahead of the Mumbai batsman for the selectors to choose from, when they have to deal with Dhoni’s eventual retirement.

But what will be interesting to see is how Rahane does as a batsman. More importantly, with the decision in his own court, where will Rahane bat himself? Conventional wisdom indicates that he would open the batting as that’s where he has been at his best in the limited-over formats. On the other hand, with other specialist openers like Uthappa and Murali Vijay in the side, will Rahane use this opportunity convince Dhoni he can indeed do a good job in the middle-order?

In all likelihood, Rahane will play at the top of the order. All the same, the stand-in captain needs runs under his belt. Rahane was an integral part of the long season that has seen the other batsmen get a breather. This was perhaps the selectors’ way of letting him know that they want him to win his place back in the team.

A series win will be expected, but for his long-term future, Rahane will need the bat to do the talking for him, shy as he is.