Chennai: Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul have returned back to the India ODI setup after they were named in the 15-member squad for the upcoming series against Australia. The squad will also be bolstered with the return of Jasprit Bumrah and skipper Virat Kohli.
The selectors have named two squads, one for the first two ODIs and the remaining for the last three, the only change in the two squads is Bhuvneshwar Kumar who has been rested for the first two ODIs. He will replace Siddharth Kaul in the last three ODIs. One notable absentee from the ODI squad that toured New Zealand is Dinesh Karthik. With series being the last one for India before the World Cup, this move gives an impression that Karthik will miss the flight to England. Ravindra Jadeja, Khaleel Ahmed, Shubhman Gill and Mohammad Siraj have also been left out.
Dinesh Karthik, who recently took the baton as the finisher had shone with the bat in the limited opportunities he got in the last two series against Australia and New Zealand. He scored at run-a-ball in crucial chases to get India over the line and also averaged over 75. Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant is still new to the ODI circuit and hasn’t given any noteworthy performance in his three-match long career.
With Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar and Shami featuring in this series, it is clear that these they will form the three-pronged pace attack in World Cup couplesd with the wrist spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav adding variety to the attack. With good showing in the series against New Zealand, Vijay Shankar has put himself in the reckoning for a World cup spot along with fellow all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Kedar Jadhav.
India’s squad for 1st and 2nd ODI against Australia: Virat Kohli (Capt), Rohit Sharma (vc), Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (wk), Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohamed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Vijay Shankar, Rishabh Pant, Siddharth Kaul, KL Rahul.
India’s squad for remaining three ODIs: Virat Kohli (Capt), Rohit Sharma (vc), Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (wk), Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Vijay Shankar, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant.