Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar included in Team India’s Test squad for first 2 matches against Australia; Prithvi Shaw in T20I squad for New Zealand series
The BCCI selection committee on Friday, January 13, announced Team India’s squads for the white-ball series against New Zealand at home, as well as the first two Test matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.
With Rishabh Pant unavailable for the Tests against Australia, Ishan Kishan has been included as one of the keeper-batters in the team along with KS Bharat. Significantly, T20I superstar Suryakumar Yadav also finds a place in the Test squad.
While all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has been named in the team for the first two Tests against Australia, the selectors included a note which stated that his inclusion in the squad is subject to fitness.
Left-arm seamer Jaydev Unadkat, who played in his first Test after a gap of 12 years in Bangladesh, has also been retained.
India’s Test squad for the first two Tests against Australia: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), R. Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Suryakumar Yadav.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy will begin with the first Test in Nagpur from February 9.
Hardik Pandya retained as captain for Team India’s T20I squad for New Zealand series
Looking at Team India’s squads for the white-ball series against New Zealand, Rohit Sharma remains ODI captain, while Hardik Pandya has been retained as T20I leader. KL Rahul and Axar Patel will be unavailable for the New Zealand Home series due to family commitments.
With both Pant and Rahul unavailable, Bharat finds his name in the ODI squad as well.
In a significant development, Mumbai batter Prithvi Shaw, who recently slammed 379 in the ongoing Ranji Trophy, has been named in the T20I squad that will take on New Zealand.
India’s ODI squad against New Zealand: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan (wk), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, KS Bharat (wk), Hardik Pandya (vice-captain), Washington Sundar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umran Malik.
India’s T20I squad against New Zealand: Hardik Pandya (Captain), Suryakumar Yadav (vice-captain), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi, Prithvi Shaw, Mukesh Kumar.
India will play three ODIs and as many T20Is against the Kiwis from January 18 to February 1.
Team India’s schedule for T20Is and ODIs vs New Zealand
January 18 - 1st ODI, Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
January 21 - 2nd ODI, Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur
January 24 - 3rd ODI, Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore
January 27 - 1st T20I, JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi
January 29 - 2nd T20I, Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
February 1 - 3rd T20I, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Team India’s schedule for Border-Gavaskar Trophy vs Australia
February 9-13: 1st Test, Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur
February 17-21: 2nd Test, Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
March 1-5: 3rd Test, Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala
March 9-13: 4th Test, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad