The first T20I against NZ will be played on November 18, followed by the second and third on November 20 and November 22, respectively.Midway into the T20 World Cup, chief selector Chetan Sharma announced India’s squads for the upcoming tours of New Zealand and Bangladesh on Monday. In New Zealand, Hardik Pandya will lead in the T20Is while Shikhar Dhawan will be captain for the ODI leg with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, along with a few others, rested for the tour. Pandya had led India for the Ireland T20Is in June as well.
Rohit will be back to lead a near full-strength side, minus the rested Pandya, for the Bangladesh ODIs and Tests subsequently, with Ravindra Jadeja also set to return there after knee surgery, subject to proving his fitness.
No Ashwin, Karthik in white-ball
Ravichandran Ashwin hasn’t found a place in any of the three white-ball squads, while Dinesh Karthik, the team’s specialist finisher in the T20 World Cup, hasn’t been picked for the New Zealand T20Is.
🚨 NEWS 🚨: India’s squads for series against New Zealand and Bangladesh announced. #TeamIndia | #NZvIND | #BANvIND
More Details 👇https://t.co/YsToGDBozi
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 31, 2022
When asked if it meant the end of the road for 37-year-old Karthik, Chetan Sharma said, “It is not like that. We focus on workload management, and the way Dinesh Karthik has performed, he is always available for the selectors. We are just looking to try a different set of players immediately after the World Cup. Otherwise, doors are open for everybody.”
The chief selector was then asked whether Karthik, who plays only one international format these days, had played enough to merit the need for workload management, and what his medical reports shared with the selectors had suggested in that regard. Chetan Sharma replied, “Internal matters (such as player medical reports) cannot be discussed on a public platform.”
Bumrah to return for Australia series
The chief selector informed that Jasprit Bumrah, who had been ruled out of the T20 World Cup due to a stress reaction of the back, would be back for the home series against Australia, which is scheduled in February 2023. Since the England tour in July, Bumrah has played only two T20Is against Australia in September. Chetan Sharma said that the selectors had tried to “hurry up” Bumrah’s return with the T20 World Cup in mind, but were being extra cautious now.
“We tried to hurry up Jasprit Bumrah, we tried to get him with the World Cup coming. And see what has happened? We are without Jasprit Bumrah in the World Cup,” Chetan Sharma said. “The NCA (National Cricket Academy, Bengaluru) team and the medical team is looking after him very well. And he will definitely be part and parcel of the team very soon, definitely against Australia. But for Bangladesh, we are a little cautious with Bumrah as opposed to like we tried to bring him back early (after the Asia Cup). So we don’t want to do that this time.”
Shaw, Sarfaraz not picked
Prithvi Shaw has again failed to find a spot in any of the squads. Shaw has scored 285 runs for Mumbai in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy at an average of 47.50 and strike-rate of 191.28. Chetan Sharma said that the young opener will get his opportunity “very soon.”
🗣️ 🗣️ Mr. @chetans1987, Chairman, All-India Senior Selection Committee speaks about how the workload management of the players is approached. #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/RIYIHqslIN
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 31, 2022
“We are looking at Prithvi, we’re constantly in touch with Prithvi, he has been doing well. There’s nothing wrong with him at all. The thing is, the players who are already playing and those who are performing, they have got their chances. He will definitely get his chance.”
Sarfaraz, the Mumbai middle-order batsman, was the standout lead run-getter in the previous Ranji Trophy, with 982 runs, including four hundreds, at an average of 122.75. While he has been part of India ‘A’ sides, he may have to work “extra harder” for the national call-up, according to the chief selector.
“The selectors are giving him [Sarfaraz] a chance wherever there are opportunities,” Chetan Sharma said. “He was part of the India ‘A’ squad recently. He is a brilliant player. He’s not too far away. Sometimes you may have to work extra harder to come into the team, but otherwise he’s done his job. He’s a serious contender, there was a lot of discussion (about him) and he will definitely get a chance very soon.”
Vihari, Bishnoi dropped
Hanuma Vihari, who played India’s last Test match, against England in July, has been left out of the Test squad for Bangladesh. India play only three middle-order batsmen nowadays, and Chetan Sharma said that the selectors were looking at Shubman Gill as a middle-order option too, which leaves no space for Vihari.
“Our middle order is packed and as per team combination, wickets and conditions, we looked at players who will potentially play in the XI,” Chetan Sharma said.
The packed middle order also means Ajinkya Rahane will have to score big runs in domestic cricket to push for a comeback, according to the chief selector.
Also, with Kuldeep Yadav chosen alongside Yuzvendra Chahal for the New Zealand T20Is, there was no place for Ravi Bishnoi, the reserve spinner for the T20 World Cup.
Sen, Dayal called up; Malik returns
Pacers Kuldeep Sen (Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan Royals) and Yash Dayal (Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat Titans) have received maiden call-ups, for the New Zealand and Bangladesh ODIs respectively. Both were part of the India ‘A’ side for the New Zealand ‘A’ series recently.
Also, Umran Malik, India’s fastest bowler, who had played three T20Is in Ireland and England, is back for the New Zealand tour.
India squads
New Zealand T20Is: Hardik Pandya (C), Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (VC and WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, Mohd. Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umran Malik
New Zealand ODIs: Shikhar Dhawan (C), Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (VC and WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Shahbaz Ahmed, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Deepak Chahar, Kuldeep Sen, Umran Malik
Bangladesh ODIs: Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul (VC), Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Shreyas Iyer, Rahul Tripathi, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Deepak Chahar, Yash Dayal
Bangladesh Tests: Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul (VC), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (WK), KS Bharat (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav