NE SPORTS BUREAU
MUMBAI, JAN 13
There was a twist in the tale at the last minute and the national selection committee of Board of Cricket Control of India (BCCI) has picked only the Twenty20 International squad for the New Zealand series. The MSK Prasad selection committee has left the ODI and Test players for a later date.
In the Twenty20I squad, the information is that there are not many changes. Rohit Sharma, who was rested for the just-concluded T20I series against Sri Lanka, has been called back with Sanju Samson making way for the vice-captain. The rest of the squad, that played the thee T20Is, remains the same. India plays five T20 games against New Zealand starting from January 24.
As of the ODI and Test squads, there is an understanding that it will have to be picked a week later. It means the selection committee and the team management will have a conference call before finalising the players. Fringe players like Surya Kumar Yadav have a chance to be considered for the ODIs. Long shot, but not ruled out.
India’s T20I squad
Virat Kohli (C), Rohit Sharma (VC), KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant (WK), Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Navdeep Saini, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur
Gambhir, Madan Lal in CAC?
Meanwhile, the BCCI officials have made it known to concerned that they are on the verge of appointing a Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) that will pick the new selection committee. Gautam Gambhir, Madan Lal and Sulakshana Naik are tipped for the position but there is no official word yet on this.
