(Cricket news) India's preparation for the 2023 ODI World Cup will go into a higher gear after the T20 World Cup is concluded. The men in blue will be taking on New Zealand away from home straight after the T20 World Cup for 3 T20Is and 3 ODIs after which they will travel to Bangladesh 3 ODIs and 3 Tests. The BCCI have announced 2 different squads for the ODI series keeping rest and workload management in mind. There are quite a few surprising calls in the squads and some players might feel hard done by. It would've made more sense for the selectors to announce the squad for the Bangladesh ODIs after the New Zealand series was concluded.
Squad for New Zealand ODI series:
Shikhar Dhawan (C), Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (VC and WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Shahbaz Ahmed, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Deepak Chahar, Kuldeep Sen, Umran Malik
Squad for Bangladesh ODI series:
Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul (VC), Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Shreyas Iyer, Rahul Tripathi, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Deepak Chahar, Yash Dayal
It's not just a simple case of the B team taking on New Zealand and the A team taking on Bangladesh. The selectors may have over complicated matters. The simple calculation is that Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur and Deepak Chahar are in both the squads. Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Axar Patel and Mohammed Shami have been rested for the New Zealand series as it comes straight after the T20 World Cup but all of them are back for the Bangladesh series. Hardik Pandya is leading the side in the T20I series against New Zealand but is rested for both the ODI series.
Shubman Gill and Sanju Samson have only made it to the New Zealand squad despite incredible performances in this format recently. Deepak Hooda has been a regular part of the ODI set-up but he is dropped for the Bangladesh series. Shahbaz Ahmed, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Sen, Umran Malik and Deepak Chahar are understandably only in the New Zealand squad as they are yet to establish themselves in this format. Suryakumar Yadav has also not made it to the Bangladesh squad. He has been the best T20I batter in the world but he is yet to show it in the 50-over format. The series against New Zealand will be a good opportunity.
Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav are also dropped from the series against Bangladesh. There is a chance that they could be rested as Kuldeep is making a return to the Test side while Chahal hasn't had a rest in a while. India are going into the Bangladesh series without a single wrist spinner. There is absolutely no reason to drop the two as they have been performing in the ODI format. It could be a selection call based on the conditions as well. Ravindra Jadeja will return to action for the Bangladesh ODIs after his knee surgery.
Ishan Kishan, Rajat Patidar, Rahul Tripathi, Mohammed Siraj, Yash Dayal are included for the Bangladesh series. The real question is why are they not in the New Zealand series. Technically speaking these 5 players are in the A squad and not in the B squad and none of the 5 need rest as to speak neither are they left out due to injury issues. The only possible explanation for the decision is that the selectors want to try out as many players as possible before selecting their set players to choose from in the World Cup.
Prithvi Shaw still doesn't get an opportunity even after some really good domestic performances. Chief selector Chetan Sharma did say that Shaw will get his opportunity very soon. Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan and Mukesh Kumar, who were in the last ODI squad against South Africa are left out. Jasprit Bumrah is not yet fit but Chetan Sharma has stated that he will be back when Australia tour India next year.
Also read: Karthik and Ashwin dropped from the New Zealand T20I series
