KL Rahul may return to India Test squad for the tour of New Zealand. BCCI selectors will meet in Bengaluru on Sunday (January 19) to pick both ODI and Test squads
Bengaluru: The Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) selectors will meet in Bengaluru on Sunday (January 19) to pick the India ODI and Test squads for the tour of New Zealand.
The BCCI selection panel, headed by MSK Prasad, is likely to bring back opening batsman KL Rahul to the Test squad. However, there is still doubt on all-rounder Hardik Pandya.
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Karnataka batsman Rahul has been in fine form in white ball cricket. Even captain Virat Kohli had praised him after his half century against Australia in the second ODI in Rajkot. Now, he might make a comeback to the five-day format after losing his spot last year.
On Sunday, India will be involved in the series-deciding third ODI against Australia at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The three-match rubber stands at 1-1.
The selectors have already announced the T20I squad for New Zealand tour. They had dropped Kerala wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson. Vice-captain Rohit Sharma had returned to the squad after being rested for Sri Lanka series at home.
During their tour of New Zealand, India will play five T20Is, three ODIs and two Tests. The tour will start with the opening T20I on January 24. The team will leave from Bengaluru on January 20.
Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Manish Pandey, Shivam Dube, Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur, Navdeep Saini, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami.
Kane Williamson (captain), Hamish Bennett, Tom Bruce (for fourth, fifth matches), Colin de Grandhomme (for first three matches), Martin Guptill, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Colin Munro, Ross Taylor, Blair Tickner, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert (wicketkeeper), Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee.
T20Is (All matches start at 12.30 PM IST)
1st T20I (January 24) - Auckland
2nd T20I (January 26) - Auckland
3rd T20I (January 29) - Hamilton
4th T20I (January 31) - Wellington
5th T20I (February 2) - Mount Maunganui
ODIs (All matches start at 7.30 AM IST)
1st ODI (February 5) - Hamilton
2nd ODI (February 8) - Auckland
3rd ODI (February 11) - Mount Maunganui
Tests (All matches start at 4 AM IST)
1st Test (February 21-25) - Wellington
2nd Test (February 29-March 4) - Christchurch
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