The Indian cricket team is currently gearing up for the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand. The team for the upcoming series against New Zealand was announced on Friday. Hardik Pandya has been appointed as the captain again for the shortest game format. However, the squad for the series has surprised many, as two of India’s biggest stars, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, have been left out of the squad.
The selectors have also given a chance to some new players, such as Prithvi Shaw, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rahul Tripathi, and Jitesh Sharma, who has been performing well in domestic cricket. This has given the team a new look, and the youngsters will be eager to prove their worth in the international arena. Despite the absence of some of the big names, the Indian team is still a strong unit and is expected to put up a good show in the series.
While Rohit is 35, Kohli is 34. Once the squads were announced, fans took to social media to express their disappointment. While some reckoned it is an end of an era, others took a jibe at the Indian board for not picking them. Know the 3 big reasons why Kohli and Rohit are not included in the squad.
1. Strengthening the young team for T20I
India has chosen a new strategy of strengthening the young players for the T20I format. Recently, teams have chosen players who are relatively younger and have talents in the format. At the T20 World Cup in Australia last year, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma played their lastT20I game. Being India’s leading run-scorer, Kohli had a fantastic tournament. Despite not having the best tournaments, Rohit Sharma recently stated that he is still sticking with the format.
2. Rest and Recovery
Both Kohli and Sharma have been playing non-stop cricket. With the T20I series against New Zealand coming up, it is possible that the team management decided to rest the two players and give them an opportunity to recuperate and recharge for the upcoming four-Test series against England. Looking at the 2023 ODI world cup, BCCI might be thinking to avoid big players sustaining any kind of injuries.
3. Trying out new players
In the absence of two of India’s most experienced and successful batsmen, the team management might be looking to try out some of the new and upcoming players. This could be a great opportunity for the likes of Ishan Kishan, Prithvi Shaw, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, and Jitesh Sharma to make a mark and cement their spot in the Indian squad.
With Virat and Rohit out of the squad, the team management will have a chance to test different combinations, try different strategies, and give the players a chance to get accustomed to the conditions.
India’s T20I squad against New Zealand
Hardik Pandya (Captain), Suryakumar Yadav (vice-captain), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi, Prithvi Shaw, Mukesh Kumar.
Also Read: India Squad For Upcoming Series Announced: Shaw In T20 Side Against NZ, Samson Misses Out
