The national selection panel on Sunday (January 12) picked a 16-member squad for the upcoming five-match T20 International (T20I) series in New Zealand, in which Rohit Sharma and Mohammed Shami have made a comeback after being rested for the home matches against Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, injured all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who was initially expected to be fir for this series, has been missed out on selection as his “rehabilitation process is taking longer than expected,” as per a BCCI media statement.
Nevertheless, in order to accommodate Rohit; wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson, who featured in the playing XI in the recent T20I against the Lankans in Pune; has been kept out of the squad.
This assignment will be India’s first-ever five-match T20I series and prior to this year’s T20 World Cup in Australia and these matches will allow the team management to try out different combinations. The squad has depth in quality in all departments and against a strong New Zealand team, they are expected to face a stiff test.
Meanwhile, Rohit’s inclusion will provide a healthy headache to the think-tank, considering the fact that of late KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan have provided some good performances as an opening pair.
The Virat Kohli-led side will commence the the series on January 24 at Eden Park, Auckland. Along with these five T20Is, the tour also includes three One-Day Internationals (ODI) and two Test matches.
India T20I squad for New Zealand series:
Virat Kohli (C), Rohit Sharma (VC), KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant (WK), Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Navdeep Saini, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur.
India Tour of New Zealand, complete schedule:
T20Is
1st T20I: January 24; Eden Park, Auckland
2nd T20I: January 26; Eden Park, Auckland
3rd T20I: January 29; Seddon Park, Hamilton
4th T20I: January 31, Westpac stadium, Wellington
5th T20I: February 2, Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
ODIs
1st ODI: February 5, Seddon Park, Hamilton
2nd ODI: February 8, Eden Park, Auckland
3rd ODI: February 11, Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
Test matches
1st Test: February 21-25, Basin Reserve, Wellington
2nd Test: February 29-March 4, Hagley Stadium, Christchurch