First Answer: By finally including Prithvi Shah in the T20I squad against New Zealand, the selectors may try to answer all the rumors about the Mumbai youngster that there is no merit. But the question still remains.Would Shah get a direct entry into the playing XI along with Ishan Kishan and Rituraj Gaekwad along with Shubman Gill?
Second answer: With Suriya Kumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan included in the squad for the first two Tests against Australia, the selectors have made it clear that Surya will get a chance in all formats. Along with this, Ishan will also be tested in the test. But the fact that Andhra’s KS Bharath has also been selected as the first wicket-keeper batsman in the team remains a major question here.
If Bharat is in the playing XI, there is no place for Kishan who can play the role of an aggressive batsman in the middle order alongside Rishabh Pant. But Kishan’s problem is that he has not stood up for his home state Jharkhand in the recent Ranji Trophy. So in the role of an aggressive batsman, Suriya or Shreyas Iyer is preferred. This will be a headache for team management next month.
Third Answer: Sanju Samson was ruled out of the ODI series against Sri Lanka due to injury, but when the selectors announced the two white ball squads, the hugely popular Sanju’s name was nowhere in it. Not only this, nothing was said about Sanju’s injury or fitness. Here too the question remains the same. Regarding Ravindra Jadeja’s fitness, the BCCI stated that his inclusion in the first two Tests against Australia depends on his fitness, but did not say that Jadeja must prove his fitness by playing at least one Ranji match for Saurashtra.
Similarly, Jasprit Bumrah’s name is not in all the three teams but there is no update on him. It is clear that KL Rahul and Akshar Patel will not be available against New Zealand due to personal reasons. Rahul’s absence benefited KS Bharat, while Bengal’s Shahbaz Ahmed returned to the squad to replace Akshar.
Fourth Answer: The selectors have also made their opinion clear about Kuldeep Yadav. Kuldeep is one of the few players to make it to every team. However, the selectors have not included Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in all the squads and the question remains whether their era in T20 cricket is over as both the legends are available for the T20 series against New Zealand.
Fifth answer: Rahul is Rahul and this has been proved once again by the selectors by making him the vice-captain of the Test team. Rahul’s preference for captaincy in red ball cricket is a big question even though he has not impressed much as a captain.
Prithvi Shaw Ind vs Nz: Prithvi Shaw returns to the T20 squad against New Zealand and the selectors finally have to bow out!
India squad for New Zealand, Australia series announced, Rohit-Virat no longer in T20I
