The Indian cricket board (BCCI) on Monday, October 31 named a 16-man squad for a 3-match T20I series against New Zealand in New Zealand, starting November 18. Hardik Pandya is all set to lead the T20I side as the senior selection committee, headed by Chetan Sharma, rested full-time captain Rohit Sharma.
Former captain Virat Kohli has also been rested along with vice-captain KL Rahul. India will play 3 T20Is and as many ODIs in New Zealand in what will be their first tour of the country since 2020. India will begin their tour with a T20I in Wellington on November 18, 5 days after the T20 World Cup 2022 final in Australia.
Hardik Pandya, who has emerged to be one of the vital cogs in the Indian T20I side, had led India in a 2-match T20I series in Ireland in July. Hardik led India to a comfortable victory over the Irish side. Hardik’s evolution as a leader during his victorious campaign in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 with Gujarat Titans.
India have also not picked senior pacer Jasprit Bumrah with the chairman of the senior selection committee stressing that the National Cricket Academy’s medical team is monitoring his recovery from an injury that ruled him out of T20 World Cup 2022.
India also overlooked Dinesh Karthik for the T20I series but Chetan Sharma said the veteran wicketkeeper-batter would be in contention even after the T20 World Cup in Australia.
Squad:
Hardik Pandya (captain), Rishabh Pant (Vice-captain), Ishan Kishan, Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Harshal Patel, Bhunneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik.
