New Delhi: The Indian cricket team is slated to play a a three-match T20 home series against New Zealand after the end of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021. For the series, Kings XI Punjab skipper KL Rahul will reportedly don the captain's hat while senior players will be rested.
According to an article in Mint, senior players Hardik Pandya and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who are currently struggling with poor form, will be dropped. In the coming days, BCCI and selectors will be holding a meeting over the selection of the team for India vs New Zealand series and it is being predicted that the management is willing to introduce some fresh faces.
“It is expected that Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who is in poor form, and Hardik Pandya, whose fitness remains an unresolved mystery, are likely to be dropped from the T20 squad against New Zealand,” claimed the report in Mint.
Also, as per the report, senior fast-bowlers Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah will too be rested for the T20 series.
IPL 2021 highest run-scorer Ruturaj Gaikwad and highest wicket-taker Avesh Khan, besides Yuzvendra Chahal can possibly be picked for the T20 series vs New Zealand. KKR's in-form hard-hitting batsman Venkatesh Iyer too might be picked in the Indian squad as a substitute for Hardik Pandya.
Almost 11 months are left for much-awaited T20 World Cup 2022, slated be hosted in Australia.
The selectors may also consider the name of Jammu and Kashmir's talented pacer Umran Malik, keeping in mind the pitches of Australia during the upcoming T20 World Cup. Axar Patel, Shreyas Iyer, Deepak Chahar may make a comeback for the T20I series, while Shubman Gill, Mayank Agarwal, Umesh Yadav are all likely to make a comeback in the red-ball format (Test match).