Mahendra Singh Dhoni is set for his India debut as captain Sourav Ganguly reaffirmed on Wednesday that the team would not go back to Rahul Dravid to take up the additional role of wicketkeeper in the one-day series against Bangladesh.
"Dravid won't be keeping," Ganguly said on the eve of the first one-day international at the M A Aziz stadium at Chittagong.
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Ganguly said although the playing eleven is yet to be finalised, the team management has decided to rotate the seniors in the side so that the youngsters get a chance in the series.
"All the youngsters on the tour will get to play in the three games. They will swap around the seniors in the team," he said.
"Senior members like Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar will be rotated along with the newcomers in the side.
"We will decide on whom to play in each match based on the right combination, after deciding whom to rest and such things."
Ganguly said Harbhajan Singh's reported suspect bowling action would not affect the team in anyway.
"There is nothing special about it. Harbhajan had a talk with the Board who has taken up the matter now. Several bowlers have been reported in the past, it is not a major threat."
The youngsters will have a big incentive for performing well in the low-key series as Ganguly said those who do well here might get to play against Pakistan at home in February-March next year.
Asked if Dhoni would be used as a pinch hitter, the captain said: "we will work on that in the course of time. Ultimately we have to arrive at the best 14 for the Pakistan series."
Sridharan Sriram, who played his last ODI in 2000-01, and uncapped Joginder Sharma are the other newcomers while Punjab skipper Dinesh Mongia is also on a comeback trail.
Dhoni, born in Almora, Uttaranchal and brought up in Ranchi, Jharkhand, calls himself a "natural strokemaker".
He earned rave reviews after his performance on the India 'A' tour of Zimbabwe and Kenya earlier this year. The 23-year-old is ready to bat at any position.
"For India 'A' I have opened the innings and also batted at number three. But throughout my career, I have batted at seven, eight," said Dhoni.
"I am open to bat at any position to suit the team' s needs. I can bat in the middle order. At times, the team wants me to go up as pinch hitter, I have done that also."
He was in full flow during the three-day warm-up match between the Board President's XI and the touring South Africans at Jaipur last month where he smashed six fours and a six for his 39.
Bangladesh have decided to rest paceman Mashrafe Mortaza and are toying with the idea of promoting veteran spinner Mohammad Rafique to the opener's slot.
Mohammad Ashraful, who played an enterprising knock of 158 not out in the second Test, has been given the No. 4 slot.
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