No Dhoni in Indian team for T20s against South Africa, fit-again Hardik back
New Delhi, Aug 29: Mahendra Singh Dhoni did not figure in the Indian team for the upcoming three-match T20 series against South Africa while a fit-again Hardik Pandya returned as the only change in the 15-member squad announced on Thursday.
The three T20 Internationals will be played in Dharamsala (September 15), Mohali (September 18) and Bengaluru (September 22).
Dhoni, who had taken a two-month sabbatical from the sport, is currently vacationing in the United States, having served the Territorial Army for 15 days.
It couldn't be ascertained whether the selectors spoke to Dhoni about his availability for the home series against South Africa.
Going strictly by the date of the squad selection for the tour of West Indies (July 21), Dhoni's "self-imposed break" officially ends on September 21, a day before the final T20 International against the Proteas.
The current selection committee headed by MSK Prasad "wants to look ahead" and sources in the know of things said that the 38-year-old World Cup winning former skipper is "not in their scheme of things".
"This selection committee is clear on one front. They will never ask any questions to Dhoni with regards to retirement as that's not their domain. But till they are in charge, they reserve the right to select the squad and as far as they are concerned, Rishabh Pant is now India's first-choice keeper across formats," a senior BCCI official told PTI.
With 22 T20 International matches before next year's T20 World Cup in Australia, the selection committee wants to put a succession plan in place for the new panel, which will take charge as and when the BCCI elections happen.
"The three choices as white ball keepers are Pant, Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan," the official said.
But it is impossible to say what will happen when India have their next limited overs assignment. All eyes will be on whether Dhoni plays the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Jharkhand. The tournament is scheduled from November 8 to December 1.
If Dhoni is part of that, it would mean that he will play one more year of Indian Premier League for Chennai Super Kings.
As chief coach Ravi Shastri had recently pointed out that only three to four players from the ODI squad are certainties in the shortest format. Captain Virat Kohli, his deputy Rohit Sharma, all-rounder Hardik Pandya and pacer Jaspit Bumrah probably comprise that quartet.
A cursory look at the squad says that it is almost similar to the one that blanked the West Indies 3-0 in the previous series in the United States and the Caribbean.
Pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the only player left out as part of the workload management programme while the younger of the Pandya brothers -- Hardik -- was back in the team after being rested to treat his minor niggles.
The likes of Krunal Pandya, Chahar brothers -- seamer Deepak and leg-spinner Rahul, finger spinner Washington Sundar, tearaway quicks Navdeep Saini and Khaleel Ahmed are all part of the current T20 set-up.
"There will be a few changes and few more players might be checked out as we progress. Like Bumrah is again not playing the T20s and simply because he will then play three Test matches (vs South Africa) in three weeks. His workload management as Virat pointed is very crucial," the official said.
Samson is another player who is expected to get a look-in sometime during the season as Pant is expected to play across formats.
"Pant's workload also needs monitoring and Sanju's batting is on par with Pant. Ishan is also around," the official said.
Mumbai all-rounder Shivam Dube, a prolific hitter, could also come into the radar if he can improve his bowling by a few notches. It is widely believed that the experiment with Vijay Shankar could be all but over and when Hardik is not around, Shivam could fit into that role.
Similarly, right-arm wrist spinner Rahul, who was brilliant for Mumbai Indians, is considered to be another serious prospect, who is being seen as a better bowler in the shortest format compared to Yuzvendra Chahal.
India's squad for 3 T20Is against South Africa: Virat Kohli (capt), Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Krunal Pandya, Washington Sundar, Rahul Chahar, Khaleel Ahmed, Deepak Chahar, Navdeep Saini.
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AAP indulging in 'dangerous vendetta politics': Raghav Chadha after meeting President Murmu
New Delhi (PTI): Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Tuesday accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government of indulging in 'vendetta politics' and misusing the state machinery to target the MPs who recently quit the party and merged with the BJP in the Rajya Sabha.
Chadha, along with three other MPs, met President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday and submitted a representation alleging harassment and "politically motivated" action against them following their exit from AAP.
Rajya Sabha MPs Rajinder Gupta and Ashok Mittal were part of the delegation.
"All those MPs who exercised their constitutional right to express disagreement with the Aam Aadmi Party and chose to leave it, and all these incidents and developments, have been presented today before the President of India. I also want to tell the Aam Aadmi Party that as long as we were obedient, we were considered cultured. The moment we left, we were branded corrupt," Chadha told reporters here after the meeting.
He alleged that several former AAP MPs who have joined the BJP are facing intimidation and coercive actions from state agencies.
"The Aam Aadmi Party, which accuses everyone else of revenge politics, is today itself indulging in dangerous vendetta politics. Since April 24, when we left AAP and merged with the BJP, our MPs are being systematically targeted and harassed," he said.
Citing specific instances, Chadha claimed that former cricketer and MP Harbhajan Singh has been attacked, while industrialist and MP Rajendra Gupta's business operations have allegedly been disrupted.
"We left the Aam Aadmi Party on April 24, 2026, and merged with the BJP. Since then, harassment of our MPs has begun. First, World Cup-winning cricketer Harbhajan Singh had "traitor" written outside his house. Stones were thrown at his residence with the help of Punjab Police, and offensive slogans were raised targeting his family," he alleged.
"Then, our colleague Rajinder Gupta, a Padma Shri awardee and an industrialist running a major factory in Punjab's Malwa region--providing livelihood to around 30,000 people--had his factory targeted. The Punjab government allegedly cut off its water supply, and the Pollution Board conducted raids to initiate its closure," he said.
He further claimed that cases have been registered against MP Sandeep Pathak, terming them "malicious and fabricated".
"These FIRs and notices are so frivolous that they are not worth the paper they are written on. The judiciary will tear them apart," Chadha said.
He warned the AAP government that such actions could have serious consequences. "Using vigilance, the Pollution Board, and the police for political revenge is a dangerous game. You may have started it, but the end will not be good. This must stop," he said.
"The AAP has a government in one state and control over the police there. The BJP has governments in 21 states and control over police forces in those states," he added.
Chadha also alleged that attempts are being made to target him next through "fabricated cases" and claimed that social media campaigns are being run to malign them.
Appealing to Punjab government officials, he urged them not to act under political pressure. "I want to tell officials that you are respected officers. Do not succumb to threats of transfer or suspension. Act according to law and in national interest," he said.
The Rajya Sabha MP also took a swipe at the AAP, saying those who invoke Mahatma Gandhi's ideals are now misusing state machinery for political purposes. "The people of Punjab must know how their government is being used to settle political scores," Chadha added.
Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak alleged that the party is now resorting to coercive measures out of "fear and panic".
"We joined the Aam Aadmi Party because it showed the country a dream -- a dream of starting a new kind of politics, an honest form of politics. While being there, due to ideological reasons and after witnessing several inconsistencies, we decided to leave the party," he said.
"Out of fear and panic, the Aam Aadmi Party is now filing FIRs. They are conducting raids in factories and trying to intimidate people through false FIRs. I want to say 'go ahead, file FIRs', but do not back off afterwards. We will fight legally," he told reporters.
Advising the AAP government, Pathak asserted that governance, not intimidation, is the only way forward.
"You cannot save a government through such dirty tactics. If you want to retain power, you must work honestly. If you think you can stop us through false and fabricated FIRs, that is not possible. We have stepped out ready to sacrifice everything and will do what is right for the country," he said.
Pathak mentioned that the President assured them that constitutional protections would be upheld.
Taking a swipe at the ruling party, Chadha said its tenure in Punjab is now short-lived. "This government has only a few months left; it will go. They will simply board the Shatabdi and return to Delhi. They have no future in Punjab," he said.
Later, in a post on X, Chadha said that he, along with three other MPs, conveyed to the President how the AAP's Punjab government is misusing state machinery to target them for exercising their constitutional rights.
"The party that once cried vendetta is now practising its most toxic form," he wrote.
"We take strength from the President's assurance that constitutional rights and democratic choices must be respected," he added, while likening the AAP's conduct to that of a "bitter and vindictive" former ally.
