Faiz Fazal scored a match-winning 127 for the Rest of India in the Irani Cup against Mumbai earlier this year. (Source: Express file photo by Ravi Kanojia) Faiz Fazal scored a match-winning 127 for the Rest of India in the Irani Cup against Mumbai earlier this year. (Source: Express file photo by Ravi Kanojia)

Faiz Fazal who? Yes, you might not have heard the name unless you are a domestic cricket nerd. The 30-year-old is an opening batsman from Vidarbha who scored a match-winning 127 for the Rest of India in the second innings of the Irani Cup against Mumbai earlier this year.

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Before that, he had made 312 runs at 52.00 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy which came on the heels of his 559 runs in eight Ranji Trophy matches. He also scored an excellent 112-ball 100 in the Deodhar Trophy final. Fazal has gotten into India’s limited-overs squad for the tour of Zimbabwe by dint of his performance in domestic cricket.

He hasn’t featured in the ongoing IPL but the Sandeep Patil-led selection committee should be lauded for looking beyond the cash-rich show and taking note of other domestic competitions, albeit low-profile.

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As expected, a callow 16-member team has been picked for three ODIs and three T20 internationals in Zimbabwe, starting June 11. The series gives an opportunity to the BCCI and the selectors to assess bench strength and the likes of KL Rahul, Manish Pandey, Mandeep Singh, Kedar Jadhav, Rishi Dhawan, Axar Patel Dhawal Kulkarni, Jasprit Bumrah and Barinder Sran have been picked without hesitation.

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Karun Nair’s consistency in domestic cricket and his match-winning knock against Sunrisers Hyderabad only a few days ago made him an obvious choice as well. Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal got the nod by virtue of his 19 wickets (economy 7.87) in 11 matches in this IPL, and it’s good that Ambati Rayudu and Jaydev Unadkat have been brought back to the fold. Rayudu hasn’t played any international cricket since being cleaned up by a Kagiso Rabada full-toss at Barabati in October last year.

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But after 334 runs in 13 IPL fixtures, he has been given one more opportunity to perform at the top level. Incidentally, Rayudu’s career-best in ODIs, 124 not out, came in Zimbabwe last year. Left-arm seamer Unadkat hasn’t played for India since November 2013 and should be hungry to make an impression. Haryana and Delhi Daredevils player Jayant Yadav appears a good value addition with his all-round ability.

The best part is that MS Dhoni is leading the team, providing a chance to the young players to be mother-henned by the great skipper. India don’t have any in limited-overs assignment in the next few months following the Zimbabwe tour, and it’s pretty logical that Dhoni, who now plays only in the shorter formats, has decided to tour.

As for the Test team, Shardul Thakur richly deserves his inclusion. The Mumbai fast bowler finished the last Ranji season with 41 wickets from 11 matches. In the previous season, he had accounted for 48 scalps at 20.81. Thakur had a 4 for 70 in the tour game against South Africa last year as well.

Finally, Ajinkya Rahane being given the Test vice-captaincy: He did the job during the home Test series against the Saffers last year, although unofficially. The BCCI under its present dispensation has tried to make things more transparent.

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