India name 16-man squad for New Zealand T20Is

Opener Rohit Sharma and pacer Mohammed Shami have returned to the 16-man India squad for the 5-match T20I series against New Zealand. Wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson is the casualty of their return, being dropped after given a single match against Sri Lanka. All-rounder Hardik Pandya is also not included, having suffered a setback in his rehab from a back injury.

Shami will further bolster a pace bowling attack which already includes Jasprit Bumrah, Navdeep Saini and Shardul Thakur. The spin-bowling department will include both Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal. Ravindra Jadeja and Shivam Dube will be expected to share the all-round duties in the absence of Pandya.

The batting unit is also a settled one. With Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul all present, the battle for the opening slot will be an interesting one to watch out for. Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer will marshall the middle-order. Manish Pandey has also been included and could get a look-in, after an impressive showing in the final T2oI against Sri Lanka.

Rishabh Pant has been granted another opportunity to cement his spot as India’s first-choice keeper. The team management though could still explore the option of handing the gloves to Rahul.

ODI, Test squads to be named later

The selectors opted to only name the squad for the T20I leg of the tour. Performances during the ODI series against Australia are likely to be a factor when the squad for the three-match ODI series is named. The squads for the New Zealand tour is also likely to be MSK Prasad’s final assignment as the chief selector.

The 5-match T20I series is set to begin in Auckland on 24th January and conclude in Mount Maunganui on 2nd February.

India Squad: 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