Hardik Pandya to lead in New Zealand T20Is, Dhawan to hold captaincy reins for ODI series

Hardik Pandya will lead India’s 16-man squad for the three-match T20I series against New Zealand after the conclusion of the ongoing T20 World Cup. The all-rounder will lead the team in the absence of full-time captain Rohit Sharma and vice-captain KL Rahul, who both have been rested. Furthermore, Virat Kohli has been rested for the tour.

Meanwhile, Shikhar Dhawan will hold the captaincy reins for the Indian team in the three-match ODI series. Rajasthan Royals fast bowler Kuldeep Sen has earned his maiden ODI call-up. Sen had scalped eight wickets in the seven matches for RR in IPL 2022. Furthermore, he had scalped eight wickets in Irani Cup for the Rest of India against Saurashtra.

Shahbaz Ahmed has also retained his place in the ODI squad while Umran Malik makes a comeback into the T20I team.

On the other hand, Dinesh Karthik has not been picked for New Zealand T20Is. The chief selector Chetan Sharma revealed that Karthik’s exclusion is part of the workload management.

“It is not like that,” said Sharma when asked about Karthik’s future. “The World Cup is still happening. It is basically on the load management that we are looking at, who to rest and who not to. Dinesh Karthik, the way he came in the side and the way he performed, he’s always available for the selectors.

“It’s just that there are T20I games immediately after the World Cup, the thinking is just to try a different set of players. Otherwise, the doors are open for him, he’s a brilliant player, there’s no problem at all,” he said.

India T20I squad for the New Zealand tour: Hardik Pandya (c), Rishabh Pant (vc), Ishan Kishan, Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik.

India ODI squad for New Zealand tour: Shikhar Dhawan (C), Rishabh Pant (vc & wk), Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson (wk), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Shahbaz Ahmed, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Deepak Chahar, Kuldeep Sen, Umran Malik.

The first T20I between India and New Zealand will be played on 18th November whereas the first ODI will be played on 25th November in Auckland.