Rohit Sharma to lead India in NZ T20Is, Kohli rested

A DAY after Indian concluded their unsuccessful campaign at T20 World Cup 2021, their squad for the upcoming three-match T20 international (T20I) home series against New Zealand was announced on Tuesday (9).

Ace opener Rohit Sharma was named as the captain of the 16-member squad while KL Rahul was picked as his deputy. Virat Kohli, who stepped down as India captain in the T20 format after the world cup in the United Arab Emirates, was rested along with pacer Jasprit Bumrah.

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Sources in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) told India’s NDTV news channel that while a number of senior players were rested for the upcoming series, all-rounder Hardik Pandya was dropped. He scored a total of 69 runs in three innings that he played in the world cup and failed to take a single wicket in the four overs that he bowled in two matches and conceded 40 runs.

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“The All-India Senior Selection Committee has picked a 16-member squad for the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand. India are set to play 3 T20Is starting from 17th November, 2021,” a BCCI release stated.

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The Indian squad for the New Zealand T20Is includes wicket-keeper-batter Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, all of whom played in the T20 World Cup. The likes of Deepak Chahar, Axar Patel and Shreyas Iyer, who were on the standby list for the tournament, were also included in the squad. Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who was ignored for the world cup, was recalled.

Batter Ruturaj Gaikwad and all-rounder Harshal Patel, who finished as the highest scorer and wicket-taker in the Indian Premier League 2021 this year, were picked. Opening batter Venkatesh Iyer and bowler Avesh Khan also received their maiden call-ups in the national team.

New Zealand are still in the UAE and will take on England in the first semi-final of the world cup in Abhu Dhabi on Wednesday (10). New Zealand made the semi-final by beating Afghanistan, a result that knocked India out of the tournament.

Sharma has led India in 19 T20Is so far as a stop-gap captain and led them to 15 wins.

India and New Zealand will play the three T20Is in Jaipur (November 17), Ranchi (November 19) and Kolkata (November 21). They will then play two Tests between November 25 and December 7.

India’s T20I squad for New Zealand: Rohit Sharma (captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Venkatesh Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Avesh Khan, Deepak Chahar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel and Mohammed Siraj