XtraTime Web Desk: Chief selector MSK Prasad on Tuesday opened up about the reason why the veteran wicket-keeper batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni was recalled in India’s T20I squad against England. The All-India Selection Committee on Monday announced the squad for Australia ODIs and also for ODI & T20I series against New Zealand.
After not being there in the team in the T20I series against Wendies and Australia on the trot, Dhoni made a return in the T20I squad for New Zealand tour. On the other hand young Rishabh Pant has been given rest from India’s ODI squad against Australia and New Zealand.
“With regard to MS (Dhoni), we categorically told that he is going to be rested for those six matches so that we can give more time to Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pant. So that is the very reason and now they have played quite a few matches so we thought we should now bring back Dhoni into the squad,” Prasad told reporters in Melbourne.
“With regard to Rishabh (Pant), the intensity in which we are playing right now after this series we want to keep him fresh and give him a break. He will have a very good game time 5 ODIs against the visiting England Lions,” he added.
India are scheduled to play three ODIs against Australia and then, the ‘Men in Blue’ will lock horns against the Kiwis in five ODIs and three T20Is.
“As we are coming near to the World Cup we are left with few ODIs. So more or less it is a core team. We have zeroed on 20 members. Only those 20 members will be figuring from now on,” Prasad concluded.
Here are the full squads –
India squad for ODI series against Australia and New Zealand: Virat, Rohit, KL Rahul, Shikhar, Rayudu, DK, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (WK), Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohammed Shami
India’s squad for T20I series against New Zealand: Virat, Rohit, KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (WK), Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Khaleel Ahmed