Prithvi Shaw made his return to the T20I squad after a year and a half but it seems he will have to wait for his turn and remain on the sidelines. On the eve of first T20I of the three-T20I series, skipper Hardik Pandya revealed that Shubman Gill will be backed as the opener without a doubt over Shaw.
"Nahi sir. Shubman ne bohot achha kiya hai so usko pehle mauka milega. Actually, mauke ki baat hi nahi hai. (No sir. Shubman has done really well so he will get the opportunity first. In fact, with him it doesn't even come down to opportunities) Shubman will start because the way he is batting, he will obviously be in the team," Pandya said in the pre-match press conference.
Shaw made his T20I debut against Sri Lanka in 2021 where he bagged a golden duck. He has made a comeback into the T20I side on the back of performances in domestic cricket. On the other hand, Gill has been in stupendous form in ODI cricket. He has smashed three ODI centuries in 2023 already including a record-breaking double ton.
Pandya was asked about whether he would like to continue bowling with the new ball like he did in T20I series against Sri Lanka and the third ODI where Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj were rested.
"I have always enjoyed bowling with the new ball. Since quite a number of years whenever I bowl in the nets, I pick the new ball. I am used to the old ball so that I don't feel the need to practice with the old ball as much. It has helped in match situations.
"With our two main bowlers rested in the last game, I had to be ready. But (it) has never been about pressure, half of the times pressure is gone if you prepare well," said Pandya.
In the absence of Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson, Jitesh Sharma is in the squad as backup wicketkeeper on the back of performances in domestic cricket and last year's Indian Premier League. Pandya praised Jitesh but it is not certain whether he will get to make his T20I debut in the series against a second-string Kiwi lineup.
"Our strategy will be seen on the ground. Jitesh has been rewarded for his performances. Unfortunately, Sanju Samson got injured and Jitesh got the opportunity.
"We will try to win obviously. New Zealand is a good team both in T20Is and ODIs. They always challenge you. We will have to be at their best to beat them," he added.
On the eve of T20I at Ranchi, former Indian skipper MS Dhoni surprised Pandya-led side. Pandya revealed what he talks about with Dhoni.
"Mahi bhai is here which is good as we get to meet him. We can get out of the hotel also (to meet him). Otherwise, the way we have played in the last one month, it has just been hotel to hotel.
"And when we meet we try to talk about life rather than the game. When we played together I learnt a lot from him. I have squeezed a lot out of him (knowledge)... there is not much left," said the 29-year-old.
