(Cricket news) After the disappointment of the T20 World Cup, the Indian team has traveled to New Zealand for a white ball tour. The two teams will go head to head for 3 T20IS and 3 ODIs. KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have all been rested as Hardik Pandya will lead the team. The next T20 World Cup is in 2024 and India has a lot of time to prepare for it. This series onwards India are likely to give more chances to young players in order to groom them for the next World Cup. Rahul Dravid has also been given a break from coaching and VVS Laxman will take over the side.
India's ideal playing XI –
Openers: Shubman Gill & Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant hasn't performed in the T20 for a long time and making him open the batting might be the best thing to do right now. Shubman Gill is also likely to make his T20I debut after having a good IPL and a few good performances in ODIs. Ishan Kishan is the other option to open the batting while Deepak Hooda can also open. The left and right hand combination at the top will be very useful. Pant will be the perfect man to make use of the field restrictions in the powerplay.
Middle order: Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav & Deepak Hooda
Suryakumar Yadav is undroppable in T20Is at the moment and he will definitely play at number 4. Shreyas Iyer has had a few good performances in domestic cricket and he is almost guaranteed to play at number 3. Deepak Hooda played only one match in the World Cup but now he is likely to get a longer run in the team. His bowling is an added bonus to the side. Leaving out Sanju Samson will be a very difficult decision but this team is the most balanced one available.
All-rounders: Hardik Pandya & Washington Sundar
Skipper Hardik Pandya will be very important for the team with both bat and ball. He will probably bat 5 or 6 according to the situation. The selectors have dropped Ravichandran Ashwin and Washington Sundar is likely to get more opportunities now. He will have to play at number 7 in this series but if and when Ravindra Jadeja returns he could drop down to number 8.
Seamers: Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh & Umran Malik
It will be best for India if they make the tough call of keeping Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Harshal Patel on the bench. Mohammed Siraj and Umran Malik deserve more opportunities in T20Is and they will be best suited in New Zealand conditions. Arshdeep Singh was India's best bowler at the World Cup and will most definitely keep his play.
Spinner: Yuzvendra Chahal
Yuzvendra Chahal didn't play a single game at the World Cup but now he is likely to get a long run in the team once again. This time around he will be looking to perform even better so that by the time the next World Cup comes, he will be undroppable. Kuldeep Yadav is the other option and there is a slight chance that India may look to play both of them.
Bench: Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Also read: Would it make sense to appoint Hardik Pandya as India's T20I captain?
