Siraj makes comeback for NZ series
Senior India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj on Saturday made a comeback to the ODI side for the three-match home series against New Zealand, while batter Shreyas Iyer was included, subject to fitness clearance.
Siraj, who was overlooked for the home series against South Africa, is back in the ODI setup. His new ball partner, Jasprit Bumrah, was expectedly rested from the series, with the focus on the shortest format ahead of the T20 World Cup beginning next month.
Iyer, who was hospitalised during the ODI series in Australia in November for spleen laceration, will need to prove his match fitness in a Vijay Hazare Trophy game on January 6 to get fitness clearance from the Centre of Excellence (COE). He returns to the squad as vice-captain.
Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya was not cleared by the COE to bowl 10 overs in a match, and therefore, the selectors did not include him in the team for the series beginning in Vadodara on January 11. There is also little point in risking him with the T20 showpiece around the corner. The other two matches will be played in Rajkot and Indore on January 14 and 18, respectively.
“Shreyas Iyer’s availability is subject to fitness clearance from BCCI COE,” said the BCCI in a statement. “Hardik Pandya has not been cleared by the BCCI COE to bowl 10 overs in a match, and considering the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup to follow, his workload is being managed,” it added. Ruturaj Gaikwad could not get the selectors’ nod despite scoring a fine hundred during the South Africa series.
With Captain Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer not part of the South Africa ODIs due to injuries, Gaikwad had made a splendid 105 off 83 balls batting at number four in Raipur.
After being dropped from the T20 World Cup squad, Gill will take back the ODI leadership mantle from KL Rahul, who led the team in the former’s absence. Despite speculation, Rishabh Pant has retained his place as the second wicket-keeper in the squad. Tilak Varma and Dhruv Jurel, who were part of the previous series, have been left out, with senior players returning from injuries.
The pace attack comprises Siraj, Harshit Rana, and Arshdeep Singh, with all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy being the fourth option. India superstars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, now one-format players, are once again expected to draw huge crowds to the three venues.
India ODI squad for NZ series: Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Shreyas Iyer (VC; subject to fitness clearance), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal.
