The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on January 13 (Friday) evening announced the senior national men's squad for the home white-ball series against New Zealand. The biggest omissions in the 16-member ODI squad are of wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul and all-rounder Axar Patel, both of whom will miss the series due to ‘family commitments’. Rahul and Axar are also not part of the T20I squad. KS Bharat has been included in place of Rahul while Shahbaz Ahmed earns a place in Axar's position.
When it comes to the T20I squad, swashbuckling right-handed batter Prithvi Shaw marks his return to the senior set-up while wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma keeps his place in the squad. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will not be part of the T20Is against the Black Caps. Hardik Pandya will lead the side in the shortest format with Suryakumar Yadav as his deputy.
With Rohit and Rahul both out, former India captain and World Cup winner, Gautam Gambhir wants Ishan Kishan and Prithvi Shaw to open the innings for India in the shortest format of the game.
"He shouldn’t have been out anyway as whenever he has got an opportunity, he has given India that kind of an explosive start. He is the right guy. He, Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav perfectly fit the template India keep talking about. Now that you have picked Shaw, persist with him," Gambhir said on Star Sports
"Don’t judge him by every series. He is young, he is explosive and he is a match-winner. So pick him in the playing XI and give him a longer run," he stated.
Shubman Gill, who smashed his second ODI century in the 3rd ODI against Sri Lanka on January 15 (Sunday) didn't get the nod from Gambhir in T20Is.
"Shubman Gill needs to concentrate on Test and ODI cricket. Prithvi Shaw and Ishan Kishan should be your permanent openers in T20Is," Gambhir said.
