India ODI Squad vs NZ Announcement Highlights: Gaikwad, Jurel missing as Gill, Iyer return

R Ashwin has taken to social media to talk about Ruturaj Gaikwad’s omission from the ODI side.

Ruturaj Gaikwad’s axing from the ODI squad despite him scoring century in his last innings has irked fans who have termed the decision as an act of “hatred”.

Axar Patel continues to get sidelined from the ODI squad and fans are not happy with this

• Ruturaj Gaikwad has been dropped and and Yashasvi Jaiswal is the back-up batting optioin
• Mohammed Shami still out of contention and Mohammed Siraj is among the front-runners to take a spot
• Shreyas Iyer is the Vice Captain and will return to take No 4 position
• Rishabh Pant is the back-up wicket-keeper ahead of Dhruv Jurel and Ishan Kishan

BCCI announces India squad for the three ODIs against New Zealand:

The Senior Men’s Selection Committee has picked India’s squad for the upcoming IDFC First Bank three-match ODI series against New Zealand starting 11th January at the BCA Stadium, Vadodara.

India’s ODI squad for NZ series: Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Shreyas Iyer (VC)*, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal

Note: Shreyas Iyer’s availability is subject to fitness clearance from BCCI COE.

Meanwhile, in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Rishabh Pant has smashed a quickfire 37-ball 67 to power Delhi to an eight-wicket win over Services in Round 5. Pant hit four fours and six sixes in his innings and returned not out along with Priyansh Arya who too starred with a 45-ball 72 to set up Delhi’s victory.

Will this knock force BCCI to keep Pant in the ODI side?

It was this: KL Rahul (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Dhruv Jurel.

With Shubman Gill set to return, one of Yashasvi Jaiswal or Ruturaj Gaikwad will have to make way.

BCCI secretary Devjit Saikia has also confirmed that the India squad for the New Zealand ODI series will be picked today afternoon after a meeting with the selectors.

“As you know, from the 11th of January, India is going to play New Zealand in a three-match ODI series and today we have a meeting with the selectors and in the afternoon we are going to announce the squad for the New Zealand series…,” he said.

The Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) secretary Devjit Saikia has asked Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Mustafizur Rahman amid growing attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh.

“Due to the recent developments which is going on all across, BCCI has instructed the franchisee KKR to release one of their player Mustafizur Rahman of Bangladesh from their squad and BCCI has also said that if they ask for any replacement, BCCI is going to allow that replacement,” said Saikia.

A massive rush has been witnessed for the IND vs NZ ODI tickets. Expect a full house in all stadiums, which underlines the popularity of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.